Liverpool legend Hamann slams Karius for tears in Kiev

BERLIN — Former Liverpool and Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann has criticized Reds goalkeeper Loris Karius for his tearful behavior after last week’s Champions League final loss to Real Madrid.

“My sympathy with Karius is limited,” Hamann, who lifted the 2005 trophy with Liverpool, told German magazine

“We don’t have to discuss that he decided the final with his two mistakes.

“Something like that can happen to a professional footballer. But what I didn’t like was his behavior afterwards.

“To publically show his suffering after the final whistle was just as unnecessary as his tearful asking for forgiveness from Liverpool fans.”

Karius’ mistakes in Kiev allowed Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale to snatch goals for Real in a 3-1 victory, and the 24-year-old goalkeeper cut a pitiful figure as he tearfully applauded traveling fans after the final whistle.

However, Hamann was unimpressed with his compatriot.

“Liverpool fans forgive their stars just as well as any other ... their anthem

is part of life at the club,” said Hamann, 44.

“With one exception: When your ego doesn’t match your performance.

“Karius drives around Liverpool with the personalized number plates ‘LK1’ and makes waves in the city whenever he steps out.

“Having airs like that is something Cristiano Ronaldo, alias CR7, can pull off in Madrid, because he has won the Champions League five times.

“Someone like Karius has not achieved anything yet in his career and should be happy to have been given the chance by (Liverpool coach Jurgen) Klopp at a world-class club.”

Hamann is not the first former Germany international to criticize Karius, who left Mainz for Liverpool in 2016.

Lothar Matthaeus described his performance in Kiev as the “worst goalkeeping display in the last 20 or 30 years”.

However, Germany head coach Joachim Loew sent Karius, who was not named in Loew’s provisional World Cup squad and has yet to play a senior international, a text message of support following last Saturday’s final.

Meanwhile, British police are investigating after Karius was subjected to death threats and vile abuse on social media following his costly mistakes in the Ukrainian capital.