Matthias Sammer criticizes Michael Ballack’s handling of the debate surrounding Lennart Karl. The former Bayern sporting director is siding with Uli Hoeneß on this issue.
In the discussion surrounding Lennart Karl, Matthias Sammer calls out Karl’s agent, Michael Ballack. The former sporting director of FC Bayern believes it was wrong for Ballack to publicly oppose the criticism from Munich’s club officials. In his view, the former national team captain did not help his protégé by doing so.
“He’s not doing Lennart any favors by defending him in public,” Sammer said on Sky. His expectation of the advisor is that he should instead explain to Karl the demands and pressure that come with playing for FC Bayern.
Sammer also accuses Ballack of reigniting the dispute, even though it had already begun to die down. His verdict is clear: “Michael should have handled the whole thing differently.”
Sammer backs Hoeneß in the debate over Karl
Sammer, on the other hand, views Uli Hoeneß’s position favorably. The honorary president wants to help both the club and Karl and foster his development into a top-level player. That’s why Sammer recommends taking the advice of the longtime Bayern leader seriously. The record champion’s high athletic goals also entail a way of dealing with players that can be uncomfortable for some.
The background to the dispute dates back several weeks. Hoeneß had criticized Karl’s behavior, called for more humility, and announced a one-on-one meeting. Sporting director Max Eberl had also commented critically on the offensive player’s situation at the time.
Ballack subsequently spoke out publicly in Karl’s defense. In doing so, he questioned the timing of the comments in particular: The youngster had already made progress on the field following his injury layoff. Furthermore, Ballack distinguished between criticism of Karl’s public image and an assessment of his performance.
On the field, the 18-year-old has since provided further proof of his worth. In the 2-0 win over Atlético Madrid, he scored the opening goal, and in the subsequent 2-1 victory in Mainz, he netted the goal that made it 2-0.
Hoeneß recently made a tongue-in-cheek connection between his words of caution and Karl’s goals. With Sammer, he now has the backing of a former Bayern executive. Sammer’s criticism is directed primarily at the public reaction of Karl’s agent, Ballack.