Loris Karius wants storybook career ending after Liverpool Champions League nightmare and Carabao Cup final loss

WEMBLEY STADIUM, LONDON – Like many of us watching, Loris Karius was initially unaware of what Nick Pope’s red card against Liverpool would mean.

The Newcastle United no. 1’s senseless handball in the league defeat at St James’ Park meant he would be suspended for the Carabao Cup final on 26 February. That much was clear.

Then it dawned that Newcastle’s problem was even bigger: substitute goalkeeper Martin Dubravka would be tied for the game in the cup having played for opponents Manchester United earlier in the competition.

At this point, the phone messages began.

“I watched the game,” Karius explained. “Perhaps I didn’t notice at first that he was tied up. It’s different in Germany, for example. Then, of course, my cell phone rang quite a bit.”

A wild subplot to the story of Newcastle’s quest for a first major trophy since 1955 began. Karius, signed as a third squad option for the 2022/23 season, would start Newcastle’s first final at Wembley in 24 years.

He had not played a senior game since the 1-1 draw in the Bundesliga between Union Berlin and Hoffenheim on February 28, 2021, exactly two years ago to the day. He hadn’t contested a final since May 26, 2018 – the day his career took a nosedive.

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Champions League final 2018: The beginning of Karius’ nightmare

Karius’ 33rd and final appearance for Liverpool in 2017/18 is well documented.

The then 24-year-old German gave Real Madrid the lead in the Champions League final in Kyiv when his shot was blocked by Karim Benzema in the net. After Sadio Mane equalized for Liverpool, Gareth Bale won the game for Madrid with a spectacular overhead kick – Karius couldn’t beat that one – and a speculative long-range shot that the Reds keeper juggled into his own net, the ball like a bar of soap in his desperate Handle.

A tearful Karius apologized to fans after the game. Despite hinting at a concussion the goalkeeper suffered in the first half, manager Jurgen Klopp promptly broke the world record by signing goalkeeper Alisson from Roma that summer, effectively ending Karius’ Anfield career.

A loan spell at Besiktas followed, where things ended in acrimony after Karius was forced to take legal action to reclaim unpaid wages. He then spent two years in Germany with Union Berlin, where he only played five games. By the time he took his place between the posts in front of the black and white Wembley flags, most English football fans had not seen him play for five years.

“Apparently, [the last couple of years have been] not easy,” he said. “Lots of setbacks. I was just trying to keep working and putting in the work that people don’t really see. So when an opportunity like this comes along, you’re ready.

“Football is not always easy. It’s really fun at the top, but less fun at the bottom. I’ve experienced both in my career. I learned from everything. I still have many years to play and I think I showed today that I don’t have to hide or anything, that I can still play at this level.”

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Carabao Cup final 2023: Karius on the way to salvation

Newcastle’s dreams of Wembley glory were effectively dashed at half-time. Man United took the lead through Casemiro’s header and barely six minutes later it was 2-0 when Marcus Rashford’s low shot deflected off Sven Botman’s boot and Karius flapped in the air. Plenty of possession in the second half for the Magpies created few, if any, chances.

“Five minutes or whatever in the first half cost us the game,” admitted Karius. “In the second half, United defended really well, didn’t really give us many chances.

“I think we were better in the game at the beginning. We just didn’t have that many clear chances.”

However, Man United did, especially at the break in that second half. And if it weren’t for Karius, the end result could have looked far more painful.

He saved a shot from Wout Weghorst to his right with a flying save that would have made it 3-0 before the break. After half-time he got the better of Rashford and Aaron Wan-Bissaka and then made a rather brilliant one-on-one block on Bruno Fernandes to keep Newcastle’s comeback dream alive a little longer. Rather than wither after being thrust back into the spotlight, Karius embraced the big stage.

“There’s always pressure to perform, but I tried to enjoy it. It’s a cup final, it’s Wembley – it doesn’t get any better than that,” he said.

“Right now I’m disappointed that we didn’t win the game. I had a really good feeling that we were going to bring the trophy to Newcastle. I was just trying to do my job and help the team. I guess I did played pretty well.” [given] the time I was outside. It’s not easy as a goalkeeper to get the rhythm straight in a game like this, but I think I did quite well.”

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Will Loris Karius stay at Newcastle?

In January, Karius extended his contract at St James’ Park until the end of the season and his focus is solely on helping Eddie Howe’s side end a promising season in the best way possible. But he turns 30 in June – still young for a goalkeeper – and his last game at the Carabao Cup showed he can offer more than emergency care.

He has also gone through a profoundly tough time professionally and has emerged with great appreciation from the other side. And he doesn’t want his story to end here, finishing runner-up for the second time in a final.

“I’ve seen it before: it’s the worst feeling to go up there and be applauded when you haven’t won,” he said. “We went into it with a lot of confidence, with a lot of belief that we can do it. In the end it shouldn’t be. Luck in the little moments wasn’t on our side today and it takes luck to win a game like this when it’s really 50-50.

“If we had won the cup, that would have been a great story, of course. Unfortunately it’s not the dream ending, but who knows? Maybe next year we’ll be back with Newcastle. Maybe I’ll play another one.” . Last week showed me again that anything is possible in football. Who knows? I don’t copy anything. Hopefully the story has a very happy ending.”