Loris Karius has spoken publicly about the level of animosity that he received following his calamitous performance in the 2018 Champions League final.
The German keeper who signed for the Reds in the summer of 2016 made a number of errors during his two seasons as a first team squad member, but was supported by Jürgen Klopp throughout that period.
When you have a public profile, you are bound to receive criticism angles whenever a high profile error is made.
Karius was directly at fault for two of the Real Madrid goals in their 3-1 victory, but says that there were a number of mitigating circumstances that were behind his poor display.
The Mirror (via Sports Bild) reported Karius as saying:
“Believe me, I’ve learned a lot from that.
“In retrospect, I should have dealt with it more aggressively in public.
"I had a concussion after a blow from Sergio Ramos, which restricted my spatial vision.
“This was unequivocally ascertained in a detailed study by one of the world’s leading brain specialists.
"At first, I was happy to know what went on in this game. I didn’t want to make it public myself.
The keeper knew that there would be some critical analysis, but even he was taken aback by the pure vitriol.
"When the result was released, there was a lot of malice and insult, often well below the belt. I never used it as an excuse.
“But when people make fun of someone who has badly injured their head, I have no understanding.
"The reactions were over the top and disrespectful.
“My mistakes were not assessed fairly.
Karius believes professional Footballers have to accept that they are going to be in the firing line for supporters, but there is a line that should not be crossed.
"All my efforts and good performances before were suddenly no longer relevant. The reactions were over the top and disrespectful, especially that it has been drawn out in this way.
“Errors are measured with different, even abnormal, dimensions and are not assessed fairly.
“You can’t blame fans if they whistle a player.
“You pay an admission [fee] and have the right to be dissatisfied.
"A professional has to endure that.
"If there are personal insults or death threats, the line is then crossed.
"There were some of them [death threats].
“But I can’t take that seriously.
"These are people who write anonymously and don’t even show their faces in their profiles."
It became evident after the final that a new first choice Goalkeeper would be on the top of Jürgen Klopp’s transfer hitlist.
Klopp assessed his options and took his time before finally identifying his man which was Alisson.
The rest as they say is history.
Karius was soon on his way to a Turkey to play for Besiktas on a two year loan.
It has been anything but smooth sailing and while his future remains clouded, he still has a fondness for his parent club and keeps in close contact with certain figures there.
“I primarily write with goalkeeper coach John Achterberg.
“Almost weekly, he is my first point of contact.
“But now and then I also write with Jurgen Klopp, I am in good contact with everyone. I was never out of it.
“The fact is that I have a contract in Liverpool until 2022.
“And at the moment I'm just concentrating on the season at Besiktas.
“It is far too early to say anything about summer.
"Especially now that nobody knows exactly what to do because of the coronavirus."
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