Lennart Karl had recently come under criticism at FC Bayern. Following the victory in Freiburg, Max Eberl is now highlighting a completely different side of the young player.
Lennart Karl has responded to the discussions of the past few days at FC Bayern. In the 3-1 away win against SC Freiburg, the youngster may not have scored a goal or made any spectacular individual plays, but he impressed the coaching staff with other qualities.
After the match, sporting director Max Eberl specifically emphasized how much Karl had put the team first. He noted that this development in particular will be crucial for the 18-year-old as he continues his career.
“I saw him today. I know we think about goals, about brilliant dribbles—but the way he put himself at the service of the team, how hard he worked, how he played as a defender, won the ball back, and applied pressure. Those are the steps Lennart Karl needs to take to continue developing. And that’s exactly what he’ll do,” Eberl explained after the game.
In doing so, the Bayern boss deliberately chose not to focus on the young player’s offensive contributions. Last season, Karl stood out primarily for his speed, his dribbling, and his goal-scoring threat. However, following his long injury layoff, he is still searching for that same fluidity.
Eberl had recently spoken openly about Karl’s form
His comments after the Freiburg game are also noteworthy because Eberl had openly discussed the youngster’s performance level just a few days earlier. After the Champions League match against Arsenal, the sporting director had stated that Karl had not yet reached his peak form.
Former Bayern pro Markus Babbel subsequently expressed surprise that Eberl had addressed the youngster’s form so publicly. This was compounded by reports suggesting that Karl’s athletic development and public image are also being scrutinized more closely internally.
In the victory in Freiburg, Karl was once again given the chance to start. Even though he didn’t produce any truly standout offensive moments, his performance was significantly more active. In the FCBinside individual player ratings, Karl received a grade of 3 for his performance. Among other things, he set up a chance for Nathaniel Brown and was involved in the build-up to Bayern’s second goal.
For Eberl, however, the most crucial factor seems to have been that Karl also took responsibility in defensive situations. It is precisely this kind of work that is often the next step for young offensive players to secure a permanent spot on a top-tier team.
The fact that the sporting director is now explicitly talking about steps in his development also shows that Bayern continues to count on Karl as a key part of their plans. Expectations for the youngster have risen enormously following his breakthrough. His performance in Freiburg was therefore less a return to the spectacular moments of last season and more a different kind of response: one marked by commitment, defensive work, and a team-first attitude.