Loris Karius delighted to finally get a game at former club Man City
Loris Karius finally gets a taste of what he dreamed about nine years ago when he lines up at The Etihad on Tuesday.
It was in 2009 when the 16-year-old German keeper was invited to Manchester City, believing one day he would be the club’s number one.
Two years later, having been limited to Under 18 and Under 21 appearances, he returned home, initially on loan to Mainz before making the deal permanent. Both he and City are unrecognisable from those times.
“I know about three people in the club: the kit man, two physios and Brian Kidd, that's about it,” says Karius.
“The club moved forward really fast and then Pep Guardiola has changed a lot.
“It is nice to play in that stadium where you were for a couple of years and didn't get a first-team appearance – at least I get to play now. I am happy I am a Liverpool player and that's about it. There are no special feelings towards it, no anger. I am just happy I am playing in a Champions League quarter-final: it's a dream and I'm living it with Liverpool. It is perfect for me and it will be nice to go back there.
“It is going really well there but it is not for me to judge, just focus on Tuesday, but they played a really good season.”
Karius’ form has offered a further example of the dangers in premature judgement. After a poor start to his Liverpool career – when he was affected by injury – and several unimpressive cup appearances, the 24-year-old has been transformed since being guaranteed number one status.
Jurgen Klopp feels vindicated having long argued a young keeper needs to be given the patience to mature, especially in English football. Although Liverpool are sure to buy at least one goalkeeper this summer as Simon Mignolet seeks a fresh challenge, there is no longer a clamour to find a new number one.
Karius is pleased to feel part of the evolving process in an exciting side.
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“The manager is building his own thing here and he is doing really well with a lot of good stuff,” he said.
“You can really see over time he has been manager how we have progressed and become much stronger pretty much month by month. It is nice to be part of this journey and I don't think it's finished yet. It is really exciting and the manager changed a lot to the positive as well.”
The greatest test of all comes on Tuesday, of course. Liverpool must ensure if they do concede, one goal does not swiftly become two or three, erasing the sterling work of the first leg.
“It's not going to be easy. Of course when we go into the game City will come at us from the first minute and try to get an early goal – that's what I would say if I were their manager,” said Karius.
“We have to keep calm and try to score ourselves because then they need to score five and that's not easy against us. I don't think three will easy for them but we need to be ready and a goal is always a good idea.
“The whole team kept them out on Wednesday because the three up front were defending. That is the job again on Tuesday. You could see in the second half we were tucked in and it was difficult to defend and they came through more than they did in the first half so I don't think we should sit too far back, we should play our game like we did in the first leg because that is what made us so strong. We shouldn't change from the first game.”
