"A crazy story": Bayern chief predicted Karl’s goal | OneFootball

Lennart Karl not only made history in FC Bayern's 4-0 victory against Club Brugge – he also enchanted the entire club. With his goal on his Champions League debut, the 17-year-old became the youngest German scorer in the top-tier competition. Sporting director Christoph Freund was overwhelmed by the super talent's performance after the match.

At 17 years and 242 days, Karl is now the youngest Bayern scorer in the Champions League – and no German player has ever scored younger in this competition. Coach Vincent Kompany surprisingly included the offensive player in the starting lineup, and the youngster seized his opportunity impressively: After just five minutes, he fired the ball into the top corner for a 1-0 lead and paved the way for a commanding 4-0 victory.

After the match, Karl was named Man of the Match by UEFA – an emotional highlight for the 17-year-old, who is considered one of the greatest talents in Munich.

“You see it every day in training”

For Christoph Freund, Karl's gala was no coincidence. The sporting director spoke about his impressions in the mixed zone after the game – and hinted that he almost saw the goal coming. “Of course, a crazy story,” said Freund in the mixed zone. “You see it every day in training – he plays along, he is just a really good footballer, has an outstanding finish.”

The Austrian praised Karl's confidence and maturity: “He wasn’t nervous at all, but showed a lot of self-confidence. The guys respect him because he’s simply a good footballer.”

That a homegrown talent like Karl takes responsibility in such an important game fills Freund with pride: “To score the 1-0 in his starting debut in the Champions League – that is simply special. He brings joy to the whole team.”

“We had a feeling” – Freund's premonition comes true



Particularly remarkable: Even before kickoff, the Bayern coaching staff reportedly had a good feeling. “We were sitting in the locker room beforehand and said: We have the feeling that Lenni will score his first goal today,” revealed Freund. “He finishes so well in training – and then exactly that happens.”

The celebration on the bench was accordingly exuberant. “Everyone was genuinely happy for him,” Freund continued. That Kompany and the entire support staff also celebrated underscores the family atmosphere in the team.

A symbol for the new Bayern path

Freund sees Karl's performance as a confirmation of the record champion's new sporting direction. FC Bayern is once again focusing more on young players from its own campus, gradually integrating them into the first team.

“It is very, very nice that we have such a top talent with us again,” Freund concluded. “He is a boy who has everything – talent, attitude, mentality. We want to develop him calmly, but today he showed why we believe in him.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.