Bayern Munich’s Lennart Karl has received public backing from advisor Michael Ballack following criticism from Bayern Munich honorary president and supervisory board member Uli Hoeneß.
This comes after Hoeneß said that Karl is “far from being a superstar” and that “young players need humility,” – while the comparisons with Michael Olise aren’t “doing him any good.”
Working as a pundit for DAZN, Ballack said: “Lennart is 18 years old. Where were you at 18?.
“Just as he’s trying things out on the pitch, he’s doing the same off the pitch.
“Social media is a huge factor these days, not just for the younger generation. Everyone can present themselves however they want. It’s clear that you don’t always get it right.
“Unfortunately, condemnation is inevitable but you mustn’t mix that with your sporting development, and that’s exactly what Bayern are doing.”
After Bayern’s 6-1 DFB Pokal win over 2. Bundesliga side Magdeburg on Wednesday, sporting director Max Eberl said: “Lenny has to show that he can get out of this slump.”
That, too, forced Ballack into publicly backing his client. “That Max Eberl now, after Lennart’s performance curve is clearly trending upwards again, attests to a sporting slump for him, adorned with missteps, is incomprehensible in terms of timing and at least needs to be questioned in substance.”
Ballack, formerly of Bayern, lauded Karl, adding: “Lennart’s sporting development has been outstanding for the past year.
“To hold his own like this at Bayern speaks to exceptional footballing quality, but above all – and this is much more important at such a top club – his character!
“Lennart Karl has character. It’s to be expected that he’ll probably rub people the wrong way a few times in his career because of it. I hope that Lennart doesn’t let himself be completely corrupted before he even turns 20. He has my full support in that.”
