Loris Karius considers retirement as Kiev fallout proves ‘hard to shake’ – Liverpool FC

Loris Karius has admitted that he should “retire” due to his inactivity at the highest level, and the Champions League last incident of 2018 is partly to blame.

The German goalkeeper has endured a rollercoaster ride since the fallout of 2018 six years ago Champions League final and has played only 74 matches at club level since May 26, 2018.

Karius, 31, is now without a club after his two-season spell at the club Newcastle came to an end in the summer. Retirement is now a possibility, although he has yet to make a final decision.

It is openly spoken about Sports Biblethe former Liverpool goalkeeper explained how he feels his mistakes in that final led to managers moving on from him to avoid extra pressure.

“It was hard to shake,” he said of the 2018 final.

“Even at other clubs, when I was trying to gain a manager’s trust or get playing time when I felt like I deserved it in my opinion… there have definitely been times when I thought that was my disadvantage.

“It may not even be the manager’s fault, but when you know you have a player who will attract so much attention, it will increase the pressure. They probably thought, “I’d rather take the easy and safe way than the other route.”

“In some ways you can understand it, but it’s frustrating when you can’t do much else to change their mind.”

With just two senior appearances since 2022, Karius admitted: “If you have been out for as long as I have, you obviously have to consider retiring.

“I haven’t made a decision yet because I don’t need to. I’m still fit. I still have all the potential and possibilities.

“But when a door doesn’t open, I have to be honest and say to myself, ‘Listen. I have many more things that I can pursue and that make me happy and that I put effort into.”

“I don’t think it would affect me that hard because I’ve been through this process for the past few years.”

“This experience has made me stronger as a person”

Further reflecting on the aftermath of his role in the defeat against Real MadridKarius added: “My confidence definitely took a hit in the days after and in the preparation.

“Everything I did was watched. It was so extreme. It all became a bit too much.

“I tried not to pay interest, but you couldn’t avoid it. You still notice it. People tell you. I was constantly confronted with it.

“And that’s why I wanted a fresh start instead of staying at Liverpool, which I could have supported Alissonand still gets playing time.

“Maybe that would have been the better step in the end, but it’s difficult to say at that stage.”

Karius was loaned out twice to Besiktas and Union Berlin before permanently leaving Liverpool in 2022. Although his career doesn’t turn out the way he imagined, he feels “stronger” after what he’s been through.

“It was a game. I made a few mistakes,” Karius said. “I probably got hurt doing that.

“What am I going to learn from this? To not make the same mistake next time? Or signal when I’ve received the hit? It’s not easy.

“But the experience has 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.”