Ex-Liverpool keeper Loris Karius has revealed that the nightmares of his career have led him to contemplate hanging up his gloves after a spell in the wilderness this season.
His tenure with Liverpool, which began in 2016, turned bitterly sour due to costly mishaps. The most calamitous occurred during the 2018 Champions League final in Kiev against Real Madrid, when Karius’ dire errors facilitated goals for Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, sealing a 3-1 victory for the Spaniards and striking a devastating blow to Klopp’s hopefuls.That harrowing evening not only devastated fans but also signalled Karius’ downfall at Anfield. Having parted ways with Newcastle and without a club, Karius opened up about the haunting effects of that night during an interview with SPORTbible.
The 31 year old goalkeeper admitted: “It has been difficult to shake off.”
He further explained: “Even at other clubs when I was trying to gain a manager’s trust or get game time when I felt like, in my opinion, I deserved it… there have definitely been moments where I’ve thought that was my disadvantage.
“Liverpool ultimately decided to replace their goalkeeper after the conspicuous errors by Karius. Innovating in goal, they introduced Alisson to the team just two months following the fateful final.
Karius chose not to remain as secondary to the Brazilian and embarked on a two-year loan journey with Besiktas in Turkey, later moving to Union Berlin in Germany for yet another loan. By June 2022, he severed ties with Merseyside for good.
Nevertheless, the tormented experience galvanised his spirit: “But the experience made me stronger as a person. It’s part of my story. It’s part of my history. At the end of the day, I was a Liverpool player. I reached the Champions League final. It didn’t play out how I wanted but less than one percent of professional footballers play in a Champions League final. We did great things. You can’t deny that.”
Liverpool bounced back from their 2018 Champions League heartbreak by claiming the trophy for a sixth time in 2019, defeating Tottenham in Madrid. However, Loris Karius remains uncertain about his own path to redemption.”I was hoping to get a good opportunity in the summer where I could have a shot at playing again,” he said. “I could still get that somewhere else, but I still have expectations of which level I want to play. I have to be honest with myself and not go somewhere I may not feel comfortable.”
Karius revealed he turned down a move to Saudi Arabia due to the distance from his family and had advanced talks with an Italian team that ultimately fell through.
“If you’ve been out for as long as I have then you obviously have to consider retirement. I haven’t made a decision yet because there’s no need to. I’m still fit. I still have all the potential and the ability.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool are seeking to overcome their struggles against Real Madrid, who have beaten them in their last eight encounters, including the 2022 Champions League final in Paris. However, Karius is not caught up in the drama, focusing instead on his own future.
“I didn’t know Liverpool played Real Madrid this week,” he said. “At the start of the season, I decided to not watch any games. I wanted to clear my head.”
