Matthaüs jumps to Karl’s defense after skill blooper: “Let the boy entertain us”

The former German international has defended the actions of the 17-year-old after his skill moves backfired on Matchday 21 of the Bundesliga.

After a clip of Lennart Karl’s step-over which backfired against TSG Hoffenheim circulated online on Sunday, former Bayern Munich star Lothar Matthaüs jumped to the youngster’s defence.

“Lennart Karl’s little “dribbling fail” went viral. The boy is 17 years old, he loves playing football and sometimes makes his opponents look bad.

“Sometimes it’s one trick too many, but we all want to see that kind of stuff. We’re happy when someone tries to show off their skills and imitate the superstars’ tricks,” he added.

Matthaüs went on to explain that even some of the game’s greatest players like Lionel Messi encountered similar moments in their young career, seeing Karl’s mistake as honest. 

“Even Messi didn’t have everything working perfectly at 17. Let the boy entertain us, even if the opponent feels a bit mocked sometimes,” the 64-year-old explained.

While the skills may need some honing as he continues to develop, one thing is certain – the young winger is having an excellent season with 7 goals and 2 assists in all competitions.