Champions League final to Faroe Isles for Bogdan
● On-loan Hibs keeper reflects on the ‘sadness’ of seeing Liverpool lose to Real
It is not only membership of the goalkeepers’ union that compels Adam Bogdan to sympathise with Loris Karius. Were it not for an injury sustained 18 months ago, it might have been him suffering in front of the eyes of the world in Kiev in May – or even excelling.
The 30-year-old on-loan Hiberniangoalkeeper,whoisin the final year of his Liverpool contract, has signed a 12-month deal at Easter Road. He accepts his dream of making it with the Anfield club, where he made four appearances, is now over. His prospects were badly served when he tore his ACL while on loan at Wigan Athletic. Bogdan was glad to link up again with Neil Lennon, who he worked with while the pair were at Bolton Wanderers.
But he had one last taste of the big time at the Champions League final in Kiev earlier this summer as Liverpool went down 3-1 to Real Madrid. It’s impossible to discuss this game without reflecting on Karius’ role. The unfortunate keeper’s mistakes directly led to two of Real Madrid’s three goals.
It was later revealed he had been suffering from concussion following a clash with defender Sergio Ramos just after half-time.
Signed by Brendan Rodgers from Bolton as back-up to Simon Mignolet, Bogdan’s own chances to become Liverpool No 1 were hampered by some nervy performances when given the chance. Even he accepts empathising with Karius was difficult since he had not endured such a painful night on such a huge stage and probably never will. But he did once concede eight goals while in goal for Hungary against the Netherlands.
“We were not in good shape and we got run over by an amazing Holland team,” he recalled, with reference to the World Cup qualifier five years ago in Amsterdam.
“It can happen. It happened to[manchester]unitedagainst Tottenham, or Arsenal against United. But when it happens to a national team, it is a national tragedy. Of course it is more painful and emotional than in normal club life, when you have another game next Saturday. It is the nature of being a goalkeeper and why we probably look more serious.”
But Karius’ trauma was on another level. Bogdan, who was not included in the matchday squad, watched the drama unfold from a seat behind the dug-out in Kiev. Mignolet, meanwhile, was named on the bench as back-up to Karius. Both sought to console the German goalkeeper afterwards.
Bogdan recounted the feelings of “sadness” as he realised Liverpool were not going to lift the trophy: “It was too much for the heart! It was emotionally unbelievable, because everyone