BERLIN, Sept 24, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius has
insisted he did not join Besiktas on loan to escape Merseyside after his
nightmare in the Champions League final.
The 25-year-old German made two costly mistakes in the second-half of
Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in Kiev last May.
First, the pass he threw clipped Karim Benzema and went into the Reds’ net
to give Real the opening goal, then he let a long-range Gareth Bale shot slip
through his hands for Madrid’s third.
However, days after the defeat it emerged Karius had suffered concussion
when elbowed by Sergio Ramos during an off-the-ball incident before his
errors.
Despite the backing of head coach Jurgen Klopp, Karius left Liverpool in
August for a two-year loan deal at Besiktas after the Reds signed Brazil
goalkeeper Alisson Becker from Roma for œ65million, 72.5 million euros
($85m).
Karius insists he neither ran away nor has a problem with Klopp.
“I have no problem with Jurgen Klopp, in fact we have a great relationship,
he never blamed me (for the mistakes in Kiev),” Karius told German daily
Bild.
“I could have stayed in Liverpool and played a few games, but I wanted to
be number one and play regularly.
“Nobody told me to leave Liverpool and I didn’t run away.
“I am at an age where I need to play regularly. After Alisson Becker’s
transfer I decided to move to Istanbul and join Besiktas.
“The pressure got so big at some points from the media and the public that
Liverpool had to react, which was not good for my situation, but that happens
in football.”
The German says despite thinking about the Kiev final “every day” for weeks
afterwards, he has made peace with what happened.
“I know that I will probably be asked a hundred more questions about it,
but I can’t undo it and I have finished with it,” he said.
“I prefer to do that, rather than thinking about how long the Champions
League final will be with me.”
“It was a great season that ended with a very unlucky ending.
“At some point you have to check it off, you’re a sportsman.”
Karius refuses to blame the elbow he took in the face from Ramos for the
mistakes he made, but admits it was a factor on the night.
“I’d been playing pretty consistently throughout the season,” he said.
“Under normal circumstances, I can not really explain the mistakes.”
The German says he did not seek psychological help to get over his
disappointment “I was stable enough to handle it myself – my family and
friends were a great help” and has not received an apology from Ramos.
“I do not think he has my number. He is a tough player but I have nothing
against him personally,” Karius added.