Uli Hoeness wants to rein in Lennart Karl after difficult return

A breakthrough player for Bayern Munich last season, Lennart Karl has struggled to regain momentum since a left-thigh injury ruled him out of the 2026 World Cup. Against the backdrop of that difficult return, Uli Hoeness, the club’s honorary president, has criticised the young German winger and appears ready to take a firmer line. Karl’s rapid rise remains to be confirmed.

“I intend to have a serious conversation with him. He is far from being a superstar; young players need humility,” Hoeness said. He also believes pressure can be part of development: “Young players also need pressure. I don’t know whether it is good for Lennart Karl if people are always overprotecting him.”

His remarks contrast with Karl’s impressive start at Bayern. At 17, Karl made an impact on his first Champions League start and was named man of the match on the occasion of his first start for the club. Last season, he scored 9 goals and provided 8 assists for Bayern’s senior team.

The left-thigh injury happened in training, a week before the 2026 World Cup. It forced him to withdraw from Germany’s squad. Since returning, the 18-year-old has yet to rediscover his best form, as attention has also turned to his public image. Questions have reportedly been raised within Bayern about how he presents himself on social media.

Hoeness has also questioned whether comparisons between Karl and his teammate Michael Olise are helpful. “Comparisons with Olise are obviously doing him no good; there is still a world of difference between them,” he said. The former Bayern president believes humility and pressure can help the young player fulfil his potential. Karl’s immediate task is to regain his pre-injury level and establish himself more consistently in Bayern’s attack.