The Daily Mail report that Loris Karius has turned down the chance to watch the Champions League final in Madrid.
Karius, who made two costly errors in last year’s final against Real Madrid, had been invited to attend by Liverpool.
Yet he’s opted to steer clear as he thinks his presence could divert attention away from the team and game at hand.
(Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
All of Liverpool’s current players who are out on loan have been invited to attend the final against Spurs.
However, they have been told to travel separately from the rest of the team and will remain on holiday instead.
Marko Grujic posted on Instagram that he will be joining up with the team, but Karis has made other plans.
Karius is currently one year into a loan spell with Besiktas and continuing his recovery after his nightmare in Kiev.
(Photo by Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images)
It was proven after tests that he did suffer a concussion in last year’s final, but it’s a night he’d sooner forget.
He had usurped Simon Mignolet as Klopp’s first choice keeper, but after Kiev, he was axed.
Alisson Becker was brought in from Roma for a then world record fee, signalling the end of Karius’ Liverpool career.
It may seem harsh, but this is the brutal nature of football, and the wound is still fresh for Karius.
Karius’ presence would not have been any distraction, one would think, but it’s a kind gesture from him.
(Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
It also does show that he’s still suffering after that night in Kiev, even though he’s playing well in Turkey.
It was a cruel, cruel blow when it looked like his Liverpool career was taking an upward turn.
He now obviously feels like he cannot return, with memory of Kiev still all too fresh.
Liverpool fans will be keeping everything crossed that Alisson doesn’t mimic Karius’ performance in Madrid and instead guides the Reds to glory.
He has made some huge saves in this season’s Champions League and has helped to transform Liverpool.
But Karius shouldn’t be out of Liverpool’s thoughts, and it would be nice if the players acknowledged him if they win the final.