Reds keeper Karius says he’s ‘infinitely sorry’ for mistakes in Champions League final

Loris Karius says he is “infinitely sorry” for the mistakes he made in Liverpool’s Champions League final loss against Real Madrid on Saturday.

The 24-year-old German goalkeeper was in tears at the final whistle in Kiev after the Reds’ 3-1 defeat.

The Spanish side’s first goal came when Karim Benzema charged down an attempted throw-out by Karius, and the keeper then allowed a long-range Gareth Bale shot to slip through his grasp for the third.

Merseyside Police yesterday released a statement saying its officers were aware of “threats” made on social media to Karius.

Karius tweeted yesterday afternoon: “Haven’t really slept until now... the scenes are still running through my head again and again... I’m infinitely sorry to my team-mates, for you fans, and for all the staff. I know that I messed it up with the two mistakes and let you all down...

“As I said I’d just like to turn back the time but that’s not possible. It’s even worse as we all felt that we could have beaten Real Madrid and we were in the game for a long time...

“Thank you to our unbelievable fans who came to Kiev and held my back, even after the game. I don’t take that for granted and once again it showed me what a big family we are. Thank you and we will come back stronger.”

Karius had earlier told talkSPORT: “I lost my team the game. I’m sorry for everyone – from the team, from the whole club – that the mistakes cost dearly.

“If I could go back in time, I would. I feel sorry for my team. I know I let them down.

“It’s very hard right now but that’s the life of a goalkeeper. These goals cost us the title, basically.”

Former Anfield goalkeeper Ray Clemence said Karius would have to live with his mistakes “for the rest of his life”.

Clemence, who was in goal for Liverpool’s first three European Cup wins, including the 1-0 victory over Real in 1981, told BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme: “He’s made two horrendous errors at vital times in the game and he has to live with that.

“He’s got the whole summer to think about it and when you make mistakes in massive games like that they will be with you for the rest of your life, because people will remember them and keep reminding you of them.”

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp said: “It’s really hard for him (Karius). Nobody wants that.

“The mistakes were obvious. We don’t have to talk about them. He knows it, I know it, you all know it.

“Now he has to deal with it, we have to deal with it. We will be with him, no doubt about that.”