Like all Liverpool FC fans I am devastated today after our team lost the Champions League Final to Real Madrid in the most bizarre match, which saw us lose our most dangerous player Mo Salah to injury due to a cynical challenge after 30 minutes, witness a blunder in a million and a then a goal in a million and then another blunder.
Our charismatic manager Jurgen Klopp said after that you need luck to win a final – he was right, we experienced the exact opposite and lost 3-1.
While a lot of the focus afterwards was on the Gareth Bale wonder goal there was just as much attention on the two “blunders” by the Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius.
As usual social media erupted and some of the nicer comments (on the negative side of the fence) were that he would never recover from such a display and would certainly never wear a Liverpool shirt again.
However, another story has been just as powerful as we watched the heartbreaking tragedy of a young man making the biggest mistakes of his professional career in front of the biggest possible audience – we watched him weeping on the ground.
For me the most striking part of this story was his bravery.
Instead of disappearing from the pitch into the nearest and darkest cupboard he walked to the Liverpool fans weeping and gesturing as he sought forgiveness.
He didn’t avoid interviews, he apologised to the fans.
He went onto Instagram today and apologised, knowing he would probably get a barrage of abuse:
“I know I messed up with the two mistakes and I let you all down“
I hope he gets over this huge setback and that he fulfils all of his potential and becomes a legend at our club.
In this age of money, little loyalty and an abundance of cynicism in sport we need real characters with bravery.
Loris – I’m looking forward to seeing you back in a Liverpool shirt.
Greg