Bayern’s shooting star Lennart Karl is currently impressing not only on the pitch, but also with his remarkable maturity off it. In a DFB interview, the 17-year-old spoke openly about his strengths, his everyday school life and great role models.
With his pace, courage and carefree attitude, Lennart Karl has taken the professional soccer stage by storm in recent weeks. The 17-year-old has shone in both the Champions League and the Bundesliga and was quite rightly nominated for the German U21 national team squad for the first time thanks to his performances.
In an interview on dfb.de, the talented attacker explained what makes him so special on the pitch: „I’m not afraid of opponents, no matter how old they are.“ Respect yes, but fear? Not at all. „I always try to play normal soccer. That’s the best way to show your qualities.“ Bayern youngster Karl: „I’m not afraid of opponents.“
Karl describes his own style of play as explosive and variable: „I would say that I have a lot of speed and a fast approach. Most of my opponents already know that I also like to move inside. Somehow I still get past them sometimes.“ It is precisely this mix of predictability and at the same time being almost impossible to stop that makes him so elusive for defences.
His great idol? Lionel Messi – since his earliest childhood. „Unfortunately, I haven’t played against him yet,“ said Karl. But with his current development, even this wish doesn’t seem completely unrealistic in the future.
Between the Champions League and school books
While Karl is making international headlines, his everyday life at Säbener Straße remains surprisingly down-to-earth, because in addition to training, traveling and playing, the youngster still has to finish school.
„I can rarely really be at school because of training and matches, so I have to work hard and catch up or repeat schoolwork so that I’m well prepared for the exams,“ explained the midfielder. To help him manage the balancing act between the school bench and professional soccer, he receives tutoring twice a week at FC Bayern – an offer that the club has already set up for numerous talented players.
During the current international match phase, Karl even has to re-write an exam. „It’ll work out somehow,“ he says with the same composure that characterizes him on the pitch.
Karl now faces two important games for the German U21s in the European Championship qualifiers: on Friday, the team will face Malta in Fürth, followed by Georgia in Tbilisi four days later. It’s the next big stage for the 17-year-old – and a chance to reaffirm his impressive form.