YOUNGEST RECORD-BREAKER: MEET LENNART KARL, THE 17-YEAR-OLD TAKING THE BUNDESLIGA BY STORM
Vincent Kompany backs Lennart Karl after Real Madrid comments. Get the latest on Neuer’s return and Bayern’s injury-hit squad.
Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany brushed off Lennart Karl’s recent comment about Real Madrid being his “dream club,” calling it a simple mistake.
Karl, who just made his debut for Bayern in August, is only 17, but he’s already bagged goals in both the Champions League and the Bundesliga—making him the club’s youngest scorer in both competitions. Still, he stirred things up last weekend when he told fans he saw himself moving on one day.
“FC Bayern is a huge club. Playing here is a dream. But at some point, I definitely want to go to Real Madrid,” Karl said. “That’s my dream club, but let’s keep that between us.”
Kompany, speaking before Sunday’s match against Wolfsburg, wasn’t too fazed. He called Karl’s words a “communicative error” and said, “I try to keep some distance from this stuff. Everyone has to weather a storm here and there. What matters is the bigger picture.”
He went on, “Lennart works hard every day, not just in games but in training and meetings too. Maybe he slipped up with what he said, but his focus is in the right place, and he’s had a good week.”
Kompany praised Karl’s attitude: “He’s earned his minutes—his quality is obvious, and he’s doing a lot right. He spoke with Christoph Freund and Max Eberl and apologised, which I appreciate. I’ve tried to be the one person not talking to him about it! If he ever stops giving 100%, then he’ll have a problem with me, but so far he’s trained and played really well.”
Bayern will be missing Sacha Boey, Alphonso Davies, Jamal Musiala, and Joshua Kimmich against Wolfsburg due to injuries, but Manuel Neuer returns from a hamstring issue. Neuer’s contract runs out at the end of the season, and Bayern won’t make any decisions about his future until March, when he’ll turn 40.
“Manu is fit and will start in goal,” Kompany said. “He’s achieved so much here—it’s amazing, honestly. He’s almost 40 and still playing at the very top. We’ll sit down and figure things out together.”
Bayern head into the Christmas break sitting comfortably at the top of the Bundesliga, eight points clear, while Wolfsburg are stuck down in 14th.
Kompany isn’t taking anything for granted, though. “Wolfsburg’s strengths are obvious—they’re dangerous going forward and always a threat. They’ve scored plenty lately. It’s not a game we can take lightly.”
MATTHAUS WARNS KOMPANY: DO NOT CHANGE ATTACKING STYLE DESPITE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE EXIT
Bayern have secured the Bundesliga! Read why Matthaus wants more "spectacular football" despite the 6-5 aggregate loss to PSG.
Lothar Matthaus has called on Vincent Kompany to continue with his attacking style, despite Bayern Munich's exit from the Champions League at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. The German legend feels Bayern’s entertaining approach shouldn’t be altered even though their defence showed vulnerabilities during the 6-5 aggregate loss in the semi-finals.
After conceding six goals over two legs, Bayern’s Champions League run came to an end. While the defeat exposed defensive issues, it also highlighted the offensive strategy Kompany has brought to the team. These defensive struggles aren’t limited to Europe either; high-scoring Bundesliga matches, like the 4-3 win over Mainz and the 3-3 draw with Heidenheim, have revealed a back line that’s still trying to find the right balance between taking risks and maintaining solidity.
Matthaus, who once captained Bayern, stresses that the club should stick with Kompany’s attacking mindset, even if it leaves them open at the back. He pointed out, “With such an attacking style of play, you can't defend everything, of course. Yes, they've conceded quite a few goals, but they’re still having a successful season and are close to winning the double. They’ve even made it to the Champions League semi-finals.”
The return of excitement at the Allianz Arena was clear, especially during the second leg when Ousmane Dembele’s early goal stunned the crowd. Although Harry Kane’s late equaliser wasn’t enough to turn the tie around, Matthaus sees positives in the bigger picture. He believes Bayern has brought back the thrill and flair fans expect.
“While Bayern didn’t play their best in the semi-final second leg against PSG, they have entertained throughout the year. I look forward to their matches because they’re usually packed with goals. Bayern stands for spectacular football, and this season has been no different. I wouldn’t move away from that style,” Matthaus shared.
With the focus shifting back to domestic competitions, Bayern have already secured the Bundesliga championship. They still have two league games left against Wolfsburg and Koln before preparing for the DFB-Pokal final against Stuttgart on May 23.
BAYERN MUNICH RULE OUT MARCUS RASHFORD MOVE REGARDLESS OF ANTHONY GORDON OUTCOME
Marcus Rashford is not a target for Bayern Munich this summer, as the club focuses entirely on signing Gordon from Newcastle.
Bayern Munich aren’t considering a move for Marcus Rashford this summer, no matter what happens with Anthony Gordon. That’s according to a German reporter who’s close to the story.
Right now, Rashford is wrapping up his loan at Barcelona. He’s set to return to Manchester United at the end of the season. Barcelona have an option to make the deal permanent for €30 million (£26 million) in the summer. Both Rashford and Barcelona want him to stay, but here’s the catch: the club doesn’t want to pay the full €30 million.
Barcelona would rather keep Rashford on loan for another year or get him for a lower fee. Manchester United’s not having it. They want the full price, so Barcelona are starting to look at other players.
Rashford hasn’t made a secret of where he wants to be. Earlier in the season, he told Sport, one of the local Barcelona papers, about how much he wants to stay, saying, “Of course, what I want is to stay at Barca. It’s the ultimate goal.” He talked about the pressure and expectations at the club, saying they keep him motivated and that he feels like he’s in the perfect environment to grow and win trophies. For now, though, it’s all up in the air until next summer.
Last year, Bayern Munich actually showed some interest in Rashford before he went to Barcelona. But now, they’re focused on signing Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United for the left wing. The problem is, Gordon’s interested, but Newcastle’s price is ridiculous, reportedly around £80 million (€92.6 million). That’s much higher than what Bayern’s willing to pay. They’re thinking closer to £60 million (€69.4 million), and maybe with add-ons or an instalment plan. If Newcastle won’t budge, it probably isn’t happening.
Christian Falk, a trusted journalist from Bild, says Bayern aren’t considering Rashford as a backup if they can’t land Gordon. Bayern’s got a short list of players for the left wing, and Rashford isn’t on it. Gordon’s their main focus, but even if that deal falls through, Rashford’s not the next in line.
So at this stage, Bayern and Rashford won’t be coming together this summer, even if Gordon stays at Newcastle. That’s just not in the plans.
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