Bayern Munich were heavily criticised in the summer for leaving the squad short in the attacking department. Despite signing Luis Diaz and Nicolas Jackson, Bayern still needed one more attacking option. They went into the deadline day with the intention of signing Jackson and one more attacker, but the Bavarian club only managed to sign the Senegalese forward.
The limited options in the attack ensured Bayern were able to give opportunities to Lennart Karl. The youngster has grabbed these chances with both hands. Karl has been a game-changer for Bayern in several games during Hinrunde.
The 17-year-old forward has consistently started for Bayern in the last couple of months. He became the youngest player to score three goals in the Champions League. Karl has shown great maturity in the final third when it comes to finishing the chances. He also provides the cutting edge in the final third with his crosses and exquisite passing.
Karl’s performances have made a very positive impact in the dressing room. While talking to Bundesliga.com, Harry Kane praised Karl’s talent and work ethic in training. The English forward also insisted that the dressing room likes Karl a lot for the way he is changing games on the pitch.
"Without the ball, he has a great work ethic. He’s quite a quiet boy, which is understandable because he's only 17 and in this environment. He's learning every day and he's enjoying being part of this team and part of this group. We’ve loved having him the team because he’s made a difference in a lot of games this year."Harry Kane on Lennart Karl
Kane also insisted that Lennart Karl’s playing style is very similar to Jamal Musiala's. Just like Karl, Musiala had a seamless transition to the first team when he made his debut in 2020. Bayern hope to see Karl make a similar impact as Musiala in the coming years.
Bayern will have to manage Karl's workload during Ruckrunde
Karl has already made 17 appearances for Die Roten during the first half of the season, which equates to game time of 791 minutes. The youngster is on track to get game time of at least 1500 minutes on the pitch for Bayern this season.
The Bavarian club and Vincent Kompany will be tempted to give Karl a lot of game time, considering the fact that he is averaging a goal/assist every 98 minutes on the pitch. However, they have to be careful to avoid a scenario where the youngster gets burnt out in his first season at the top level.
Kompany should carefully manage Karl's workload during the second half of the season. With the return of Jamal Musiala in January, Kompany will have another solid option in the attack, which will ease the pressure on Karl. The 17-year-old will play a big role in Bayern’s aspirations of winning all three big trophies this season if he is kept fit for the rest of the season.