Jürgen Klopp has admitted that he was lost for words when attempting to console Loris Karius following his Champions League final howlers, with the Liverpool manager struggling to cope with the emotion of the moment just as much as the distraught goalkeeper.
Karius made two high-profile errors in the 3-1 defeat by Real Madrid that cost Liverpool a shot at winning their sixth Champions League trophy and handed the Spanish side their third consecutive final triumph and 13th in their illustrious history.
There have been claims that Karius suffered from a concussion in a collision with Sergio Ramos shortly before his two errors, but the defeat left him visibly distraught after the full-time whistle, with teammates attempting to console him as he stood on the pitch in tears, apologising to the Liverpool supporter.
But not even Klopp was able to find the words to say to Karius, with the German manager instead waiting until a few days after the final before speaking to the young goalkeeper.
“I am a strong supporter of the idea of just shutting up if you don't have the right words,” Klopp told Sport1.
“And other than a few comforting words I did not have the right words. I did not have a clue what you could say.”
Klopp attempted to stick by Karius for this season, but when the 23-year-old returned for pre-season he was clearly still affected by his final performance last season. Klopp decided to approve the then-world record move for Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker, relegating Karius to third-choice as Simon Mignolet has been selected on the bench for both of Liverpool’s Premier League wins over West ham and Crystal Palace.
The German is expected to now leave the Anfield club on loan for the rest of the season in a bid to restore his confidence, but Klopp insists the situation between Karius and the club is “good” even if he goes through with the move to Besiktas.
“Neither was I angry at him nor was I disappointed in him or something else. I only saw his situation, and everyone would love to have the right words,” Klopp added.
“I didn't have them. And that's why we left it at it that evening but for a few words.
“By now, I [have] talked to him, not only about this. The situation is clear and everything is good.”
