Lennart Karl 'incredibly grateful' as injury rehabilitation begins at Bayern Munich
Lennart Karl has returned to Bayern Munich’s training ground to begin the next stage of his rehabilitation after suffering a torn muscle fibre in his left thigh that ruled him out of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The 18-year-old is taking a cautious approach as he targets a full recovery ahead of the new season.
Karl admitted it was a special feeling to be back at Säbener Straße after the thigh issue that ruled him out of playing at the World Cup with Germany.
"First of all, I was incredibly grateful [to return to Säbener Straße]," Karl told Bayern's club website. "When you're back on the pitch, you realise how much you've missed it all. It was also really cool to see the guys again. Unfortunately, I can't be on the pitch with them yet.
"For me, it's just cycling and careful jogging for now, everything in moderation. Only then will I get back on the pitch with running training and initial exercises with the ball. Still, it was a really important step for me."
Watch: Lennart Karl lighting up the game
Although Bayern's pre-season schedule gets under way on 20 July, Karl insists he will not rush the recovery process.
"It will still be a while before I can participate in the sessions with the guys," the 18-year-old stated. "Right now, the main thing is not to rush anything. I'm in daily contact with the doctors and athletic trainers, and we're monitoring very closely how the muscle reacts.
"It's tough to cope with a setback like that. The first few days [of the injury] were really hard for me. My family helped me the most, as did my girlfriend and my closest friends, who have always stood by me. I also received a lot of support from Bayern and many messages from the team. What they wrote to me brought me a lot of joy and gave me strength."
The support of family and friends helped Karl keep a sense of perspective throughout the recovery process. After a stunning debut season with Bayern, where he scored five goals and provided five assists in the Bundesliga, the youngster is now determined to bounce back in style.
Karl added: "Everyone made it clear to me that injuries are part of the game. What matters is how you come back. That's what motivates me."
