Vincent Kompany, the manager of FC Bayern Munich, has addressed the recent comments made by rising star Lennart Karl, who referred to Real Madrid as his “dream club.” The 17-year-old forward, who made his debut for Bayern in August, has already made headlines by becoming the club’s youngest goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League.
Last weekend, Karl sparked controversy when he stated, “FC Bayern is a very big club. It’s a dream to play there. But at some point, I definitely want to go to Real Madrid. That is my dream club, but let’s keep that between us.”
Kompany, speaking at a news conference ahead of Bayern’s match against Wolfsburg at the Allianz Arena, characterized the young player’s remarks as a “communicative error.” He emphasized the importance of maintaining perspective in such situations.
“I try to view it from a bit of a distance,” Kompany noted. “Everyone has to go through a storm sometimes. Then it’s important to see the big picture.” He commended Karl’s dedication, stating, “Lennart trains very hard every day. He works hard for the team, defensively as well. He delivers every day, in meetings too.”
Kompany acknowledged that Karl made a slight error in communication but reassured fans that the player is focused on his performance. “He’s had a good week of training,” the manager added. “He’s done so much to earn his minutes in games. His quality is clear, and he’s doing a lot right.”
Following the incident, Karl reportedly spoke with both Christoph Freund, Bayern’s sporting director, and Max Eberl, the director of sport, to apologize for his comments. “I’ve tried to be the only one who doesn’t speak to him about it,” Kompany remarked, underscoring the player’s commitment to the team.
In terms of player availability, Bayern will be without several key figures against Wolfsburg due to injuries, but Manuel Neuer is set to return after recovering from a hamstring issue. Kompany confirmed Neuer will start in goal, highlighting his significant contributions to the club as he approaches his 40th birthday. “Manu has achieved an unbelievable amount for FC Bayern,” Kompany stated. “We’re talking about an absolutely top level that he plays at, which is quite extraordinary. We’ll sit down together and then see.”
As Bayern heads into their match against Wolfsburg, they enjoy a commanding eight-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga. In contrast, Wolfsburg struggles in 14th place. Kompany acknowledged the challenges posed by their upcoming opponents, stating, “The strengths of Wolfsburg are clear—they’re strong going forward and are always a goal threat. They’ve scored a lot of goals in the last few games. It’s not a game without danger.”
With the Bundesliga title race heating up, Kompany’s focus remains on securing a positive result against Wolfsburg while managing the expectations surrounding his young talents.
