"I'm involved in 50 percent of his goals" – Hoeneß makes bold Karl claim after criticism

Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeneß made headlines just over two weeks ago when he criticised youngster Lennart Karl for lacking humility and revealed plans to have a serious conversation with the teenager following a dip in performances. Since then, the 18-year-old has stepped up his performances, most recently scoring the winning goals in Bayern's 2-0 victory over Atletico Madrid and 2-1 win against Mainz. Speaking on BR's Sonntags-Stammtisch programme on Sunday, Hoeneß jokingly suggested that Karl's upturn in form since his criticism is no coincidence. "I'm involved in 50 percent of his goals," Hoeneß said with a smile, adding that he sees it as his responsibility to guide young players. “We have a duty to show young players the way,” he added. "I have so much experience. But if a young player doesn't listen to me, then I have to stop." In his criticism of Karl, Hoeneß took aim at the youngster's use of social media, reflecting his wider concerns about its influence on young players. "Social media is the biggest problem," he said, describing the world of influencers as a "cesspit". The Bayern honorary president believes young players, in particular, can quickly lose sight of what really matters amid the constant attention and self-promotion on social media. “I have to do something about that. I also see it as my responsibility to speak out,” he underlined.