Loris Karius believes the story of his goalkeeping career can still have a happy ending and remains convinced he is capable of playing for leading clubs.
“I showed I don’t need to hide or anything, that I can still perform on this standard,” said the 29-year-old, whose appearance for Newcastle during their Carabao Cup final defeat by Manchester United on Sunday was his first at senior level for two years.
Despite conceding twice in that 2-0 Wembley defeat Karius generally acquitted himself well, helping to repair the psychological damage inflicted during his calamitous performance five years ago as Liverpool lost the Champions League final against Real Madrid in Kyiv.
The German’s task on Sunday was complicated by the reality that he is Eddie Howe’s third-choice goalkeeper and was playing only because Nick Pope was suspended and Martin Dubravka cup-tied.
“There’s always pressure to perform,” said a keeper who in recent years has had unsatisfactory spells with Besiktas and Union Berlin. “I tried to enjoy it. It’s a cup final, it’s Wembley. It doesn’t really get better than this so you have to enjoy these moments and soak it all in and that’s what I tried to do.
“I’m disappointed we didn’t bring the cup back to Newcastle but I think I played pretty well considering the time I was out. It’s not easy as a goalkeeper to get straight in the rhythm in a game like this so I think I did quite well.”
Given that his contract ends in June Karius will hope that reassuringly restorative performance can help find him a club prepared to offer him regular first-team football. “Whatever is to come I don’t know right now,” he said. “Obviously the last few years haven’t been easy. There’s been a lot of set backs but I just try to keep on working, to put in the work that people don’t really see, so that when an opportunity like this comes, you are ready.
“Football is not always easy. It’s really fun when you’re at the top but it can be not so fun when you’re at the bottom. I experienced both in my career but I learned from everything and I’m still hungry and I think I’ve got a lot of years to play.
“The last week showed me again that everything is possible in football. I know things can change quickly. I’m not writing anything off so, hopefully, the story will have a very good ending one day.”
Dubravka, who played for Manchester United in the third and fourth rounds of their Carabao Cup run while on loan, did not get a winner’s medal on Sunday but is due to be sent one.
