Criticized for off-the-field distractions, inconsistent on-the-field form, and a perceived lack of humility, Lennart Karl endured a rocky start to his season. However, Karl powered through the flak, finding a rich vein of form over his last few games.
Karl capped off an impressive display against Mainz 05 with what proved to be the game-winning goal. That makes two goal contributions in three games for the German international, proving he still has a lot to offer Vincent Kompany’s Bayern side.
The
academy graduate’s strong performances haven’t gone unnoticed. Bayern board member for sport Max Eberl and teammates Joshua Kimmich and Harry Kane heaped praise on Karl after Die Rekordmeister’s 2–1 victory against Mainz 05.
“It’s great to see Lenny respond this way,” said Eberl (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “In the matches against Freiburg and Magdeburg, against Atlético, and now today in Mainz, he has shown just how important he is to us. These weren’t easy games or straightforward situations. He’s shown what he can do. He’s incredibly ‘cheeky’ and fearless. He just plays his game and does his thing, and we’re all very happy to see that.”
Fellow goalscorer Kimmich was next to extend a few words of encouragement to Karl.
“Scoring will certainly do him good,” explained the vice-captain. “As for all the discussions surrounding him, that’s normal. In a way, he can also take that as a positive because expectations are rising. He’s no longer a newcomer; people now expect performances from him. And he delivered today, so he can be very, very proud of himself.”
Kane continued Eberl and Kimmich’s praise, expressing his satisfaction with Karl’s performance.
“I really enjoy playing with Lenny. He gets on the ball in tight spaces, and I like to make runs close to him. I’m happy for him that he scored again today. Of course, there’s been a lot of talk surrounding him lately, but scoring twice in two games comes down to his mentality. I have a good understanding with all the attacking players and enjoy playing with every one of them. Today was the same,” said the Ballon d’Or winner.
A young professional footballer faces all sorts of challenges: dips in confidence and form, and finding the fine line between self-belief and arrogance. No player is immune, especially in the pressure cooker that is Bayern Munich. That makes Karl’s re-emergence that much more impressive.
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