OPINION
Jurgen Klopp has broken his silence on the concussion suffered by Loris Karius, after two high-profile blunders in last season’s Champions League final – and the goalkeeper deserves one more shot at redemption.
Liverpool lost the final 3-1 to Real Madrid and Karius was held accountable after gifting Real two goals. However, it transpired afterwards that he had suffered a concussion after being elbowed by Sergio Ramos.
And, in a statement by doctors Ross Zafonte and Lenore Herget, it became apparent that this could have impaired his performance.
“At the time of our evaluation, Mr. Karius’s principal residual symptoms and objective signs suggested that visual spatial dysfunction existed and likely occurred immediately following the event,” they said.
“Additional symptomatic and objectively noted areas of dysfunction also persisted. It could be possible that such deficits would affect performance.”
Talking to the official Liverpool site, Klopp said: “If you ask Loris, he says he didn’t think about it and didn’t use it for a second as an excuse.
“We don’t use it as an excuse, we use it as an explanation. That’s always important, that’s what analysis should be: you explain why things happen.
“So, from this point of view, from my side everything is fine. We don’t think about that anymore and we start completely new.”
The reaction from Liverpool fans has been split.
Some have sympathy for 6ft 2in keeper Karius who got injured in the line of duty. Others aren’t so sympathetic and want Karius out of the club, and see this is a sign that Klopp isn’t going to sign anyone else.
Surely the two are completely separate?
It’s a tough job being a goalkeeper, where one high-profile mistake can put a massive dent in your career.
Karius was being criticised before the Champions League final, but if he is given another chance, then it’s because Klopp trusts him and thinks he deserves another shot.
It won’t be because he feels sorry for him, and it won’t be because Liverpool won’t let Klopp sign another keeper. If Klopp wants a keeper, he’ll get one.
In the meantime, Liverpool fans should all get behind a player who was injured doing his job to the best of his ability.
Surely Karius shouldn’t have to walk alone after suffering a concussion in the biggest game of his life?
