After his impressive rocket start at FC Bayern, things have been a little quieter around Lennart Karl of late. The 18-year-old is currently getting less playing time and is thus experiencing his first minor phase of adjustment in professional soccer. For coach Vincent Kompany, however, this is no cause for concern
The Bayern coach made it clear at the press conference ahead of the Bundesliga match against Borussia Mönchengladbach that he is still fully behind the attacking talent. Despite the recent reduction in playing time, Kompany believes the youngster is on a very good path
Karl has not featured in the last two games, having previously played the full distance in only one of the last eight matches. For a player who made a name for himself at the start of the season with strong performances and important scoring points, that is a noticeable difference
Kompany defends Karl against criticism
There has been increasing discussion in the media recently about a possible dip in form for the young attacking player. Kompany, however, wanted no part of this and demonstratively defended his player. „His last game against Bremen was very good. Not only offensively, but also defensively very convincing,“ explained the Belgian, making it clear that he is still satisfied with his protégé’s performances
For Kompany, such a phase is a natural part of a young player’s development
The Bayern coach also emphasized that patience plays a decisive role, especially when dealing with young talents. Not every action has to be spectacular in order to recognize progress. „He had a phase in which not everything landed in the corner – that happens, and we stayed calm,“ said Kompany
The coach also let slip a slight criticism of public perception. While the media drew big comparisons early on, FC Bayern took a much calmer approach. „The media talked about Messi comparisons, we talked about his steady development and career progress,“ explained Kompany
Bayern continues to focus on talent
Despite the current difficult phase, the Bayern coach is certain that Karl can continue to play an important role in the team’s development
Kompany made it clear that the young winger can count on the support of the coaching team at all times: „We will continue to support him and do so with full confidence because he is constantly developing.“
These words are likely to be an important signal for Karl. Especially for such a young player, this kind of backing is extremely valuable in a phase with less playing time. In any case, FC Bayern remain convinced that the 18-year-old still has great potential.