Sports · Football · 18 hrs ago
Bayern backs Lennart Karl through a difficult start to the season
Bayern forward Lennart Karl is going through a difficult spell after a strong breakthrough last season.
He has played fewer than 300 minutes this season and has one goal contribution.
A summer muscle injury and a missed World Cup have also made it harder for him to regain his form.
Sporting director Max Eberl says this kind of dip is a normal part of a young player's development and that Bayern still believes in Karl.
Uli Hoeneß has said he plans to speak with Karl, and former Bayern player Stefan Effenberg supports the move, saying Hoeneß wants to help rather than harm the player.
Injuries to Luis Díaz and Jamal Musiala's ongoing recovery could leave Karl with more chances in attack in the coming weeks.
Bayern says it will be patient, while Karl has an opportunity to earn more playing time.
Bayern sporting director Max Eberl said the club supports Lennart Karl and believes he can regain his previous level.
Karl has played fewer than 300 minutes this season and has one goal contribution.
Eberl described the young player’s form dip as a normal part of development and said his summer injury and missed World Cup had affected him.
Bayern honorary president Uli Hoeneß has said he plans to speak with Karl, while former Bayern captain Stefan Effenberg backed the intervention.
Karl could have more chances in attack as Luis Díaz is out for an extended period and Jamal Musiala is still working toward a comeback.
- Who
- Bayern forward Lennart Karl, Bayern sporting director Max Eberl and honorary president Uli Hoeneß.
- What
- Bayern says it supports Karl through a difficult spell, while Hoeneß plans to speak with him.
- When
- Eberl spoke before Bayern’s Bundesliga away match in Freiburg; the articles were published on October 25 and 26, 2026.
- Where
- Bayern Munich; Eberl’s remarks were made at a press conference before the away match in Freiburg.
- Why
- Karl has struggled to regain his form after a muscle injury and missing the World Cup. Eberl said difficult spells are a normal part of a young player’s development.
Bayern sporting director Max Eberl
Bayern honorary president Uli Hoeneß
How to respond to Karl’s difficult spell
Bayern sporting director Max Eberl
Eberl said it was a normal stage in a young professional’s development and that Bayern supported him.
Bayern honorary president Uli Hoeneß
Hoeneß said he planned to speak with Karl; Stefan Effenberg said Hoeneß’s direct approach could help if the player’s development stalled.
Karl had a successful season that Eberl said the young player might have expected to continue.
A muscle injury kept Karl from taking part in the World Cup.
Karl has played fewer than 300 minutes and recorded one goal contribution.
Eberl said Bayern supported Karl, and Effenberg backed Hoeneß’s plan to speak with him.
A report said representatives of Karl were seeking exchanges with other clubs; the article provided no further details.
- Season appearances
- Fewer than 300 minutes
- Goal contributions
- One
- Only goal
- Scored in Bayern’s win in Elversberg, putting the team 1-0 ahead
- Summer setback
- Muscle injury and missed World Cup
- Potential attacking options
- Luis Díaz was out for an extended period; Jamal Musiala was working toward a comeback
3 sources
What people are saying
What is happening with Lenny is a completely normal process for a young professional.
We support him in this and are convinced that he will reach that level again.
Uli Hoeneß stands for picking someone out and reading them the riot act.
You must not hold young players back, otherwise they start thinking.