Lennart Karl is searching for his best form at FC Bayern. A former Bayern pro is surprised that Max Eberl is criticizing the youngster so openly and harshly.
Lennart Karl is currently going through a difficult phase at FC Bayern. After his long injury layoff, the 18-year-old has not yet been able to build on the strong performances of last season and, despite the absences in the offense, initially sat on the bench during the 2-2 draw against Arsenal.
After the Champions League match, Max Eberl also spoke candidly about the youngster’s current situation. “The thing with Lennart Karl is simply that he hasn’t reached his top level yet,” explained Bayern’s sporting director. For former Bayern pro Markus Babbel, what was particularly noteworthy was that Eberl addressed the young talent’s performance level so openly in the first place.
“I was surprised that Max Eberl even mentioned Lennart Karl’s poor form by name. That’s not something you normally see from Bayern,” Babbel said in an interview with ran.
The former national team player believes that Eberl’s statement might also contain a message for Karl’s competitors on the roster: “I think there was definitely a message for the players waiting to step in: If you get playing time, we expect more from you. At least, that’s how I understood it.”
Kompany continues to show patience with Karl
Vincent Kompany also recently acknowledged that Karl isn’t yet playing at his previous level. However, the Bayern coach explicitly defended the attacking player after the Arsenal game and emphasized that they would give the 18-year-old the time he needs.
Karl suffered a torn muscle shortly before the World Cup and consequently missed the tournament. He didn’t return to the field until late August after about twelve weeks on the sidelines. Since then, the German national team player has been trying to find his rhythm.
Even before the Arsenal game, the youngster’s form had been a topic of discussion. There had also been recent external doubts as to whether Karl was currently ready to take on a more prominent role again. Against Arsenal, Kompany opted to start Karl in the starting lineup despite Michael Olise’s yellow-red card suspension.
Eberl explained after the match that the team had deliberately opted for more depth by starting Serge Gnabry and Alphonso Davies. He also noted that, after coming on as a substitute, Karl didn’t find himself in one-on-one situations often enough.
For Babbel, however, the sporting director’s public statement is unusual. At FC Bayern, it’s not normally customary to point out a young player’s dip in form so explicitly. At the same time, this could be precisely an attempt to spur Karl and the other reserves on to better performances.
For Kompany, however, nothing has changed in his fundamental assessment of Karl’s talent. After the Arsenal game, the coach made it clear that he wasn’t worried about Karl and firmly expected him to return to his former form.