Karl stays on the bench: Klopp keeps Bayern youngster waiting | OneFootball

Lennart Karl is still waiting for his first minutes of playing time under Jürgen Klopp. Against Serbia, the Bayern prospect remained on the bench for the entire 90 minutes.

Lennart Karl will have to remain patient with the German national team. In the 2-0 victory over Serbia, the 18-year-old did not see any playing time and remained on the bench for the entire match.

Yet there had certainly been hopes before the game that he would get his first minutes under Jürgen Klopp. The national team coach had recently praised Karl explicitly and expressed his admiration for the player’s demeanor. “When I saw Lennart in person for the first time and shook his hand, I realized: This kid is ready. He’s a real powerhouse and very self-assured, yet he has very pleasant manners. He’s also a bit cheeky, which I like,” Klopp had explained.

Against Serbia, however, the DFB coach decided against fielding the Bayern youngster. Instead, other offensive players like Saïd El Mala got their minutes.

Is Klopp saving Karl for Greece?

However, the fact that Karl didn’t see any playing time doesn’t necessarily have to be seen as a setback. Klopp had deliberately spread out his large squad across several games and repeatedly emphasized that he wanted to test different lineups.

For Karl, the next opportunity could therefore come as early as Sunday. That’s when the German national team faces Greece on the road—a match that holds added significance following the 0-1 loss in the first leg.

Especially given Karl’s injury history, careful management of his workload is likely to play a role as well. The Bayern Munich player had come a long way back from a torn muscle bundle in the summer and has recently been dealing with recurring minor muscle issues.

Photo: IMAGO

At FC Bayern, his playing time is also being carefully managed. Since his comeback, Karl has already racked up points in the Bundesliga, DFB Cup, and Champions League, but he continues to face stiff competition in Munich’s star-studded attacking lineup.

Klopp had already made it clear before the international break that he rates Karl’s potential highly. Against Serbia, however, the youngster had to be patient. Whether the national team coach is deliberately saving him for the difficult away game in Greece will become clear on Sunday.