Clear gesture: Who did Bayern star Karl want to silence? | OneFootball

Lennart Karl remains the topic of conversation at FC Bayern – and not just because of his sporting explosion. The 17-year-old scored again in the Champions League, shone with maturity and coolness and is now regularly named „Man of the Match“. But after the 3-1 win against Sporting Lisbon, one scene in particular took center stage: his jubilation. The finger on his lips – a gesture that immediately triggered interpretations

As Christian Falk and Tobi Altschäffl report in the BILD podcast Bayern Insider, Karl’s reaction was perceived very consciously in the stadium. Immediately after his goal to make it 2:1, the youngster ran to the north curve and sent a clear, albeit silent, message

The reporters wanted to clarify the meaning immediately after the final whistle, but Karl – consciously or unconsciously – slipped through. „We waited in the stadium, I think all the players had left an hour and a half after the final whistle. But Lennart Karl sneaked past us. He didn’t come, we couldn’t ask him,“ Altschäffl described

It was precisely this unresolved situation that quickly led to suspicions growing

Basler criticism in the background – was it an answer?

photo: IMAGO

Mario Basler had recently publicly criticized Karl and sparked a Messi debate that the player himself had never sought. Basler said that Karl „didn’t even have the little toe“ of Lionel Messi – yet the 17-year-old had merely stated that Messi was his role model

Falk categorizes the cheers accordingly: „Of course, it’s reasonable to suspect that he was referring to Mario Basler.“ Altschäffl adds: „I have the feeling that he wasn’t a fan of Lennart Karl from day one.“

It is clear to the reporters that Karl has heard the criticism – and is now answering it in his own way. No words, no provocation, just a gesture. And it is all the more powerful because it came at a moment when he was once again carrying his team

Karl’s development makes any discussion secondary

The fact that the youngster is in this situation at all shows how far he has already progressed. Karl consistently delivers arguments on the pitch

Altschäffl puts it in a nutshell: „I think you could slowly start to realize that Lennart Karl has got what it takes.“

His development is a gift for FC Bayern. At a time when key players are missing and the workload is high, the 17-year-old is taking on responsibility like a veteran. He is playing with courage, with ease and now also with a self-confidence that does not come across as arrogant – but proven

Whether the cheers were really intended as a message to Basler remains to be seen, but the symbolism remains: Lennart Karl has a voice – and now he decides for himself when to raise it and when he prefers to remain silent.