Karius turns doubt into strength – now the German keeper shines at Schalke

The German goalkeeper Loris Karius, once infamous for two costly mistakes in the 2017/18 UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid, proves after more than eight years at Schalke that he belongs among the outstanding custodians of the Bundesliga and lets the lingering criticism after the 3‑1 defeat in Kyiv gradually fade away.

The criticism after Liverpool's 3‑1 loss in Kyiv was intense and resonated far beyond the pitch. Observers blamed Karius for the failure, which severely damaged his reputation. The public debate decisively shaped his subsequent career.

Karius' Path to Schalke

After the disappointing final, Karius sought a fresh start and moved on loan to Beşiktaş the following year. The Turkish club gave him the chance to rebuild his confidence. There he accumulated valuable playing time before moving to Schalke.

Liverpool reclaimed the Champions League in Madrid the following season with a 2‑0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, but Karius was no longer in the squad. His departure from the Reds marked the end of an era that had been shadowed by the two mistakes in the final.

"Up to that point my career was only going steeply upward, then I suddenly fell hard – all the way down," Karius later told Funke Media Group. The words illustrate how deeply the setback had hit him.

Today Karius is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the Bundesliga and contributes with sure saves to Schalke's defensive stability. His development shows that he has successfully silenced the earlier doubts.