Loris Karius is having a difficult time
The Liverpool goalkeeper was just coming into a period of good form last season when the Champions League final, the nadir of most footballer's careers, came upon us.
What should've been the proudest day of his life ended in tears, as the German stopper committed two horrific errors to
hand Real Madrid the victory by three goals to one.
Karius received widespread for his mistakes, despite the revelation from the Merseyside club that he had in fact
received a concussion earlier in the game from Shithouser-In-Chief Sergio Ramos.
Many critics viewed the errors - on such a big stage - as evidence that the former Mainz number one is simply not cut out for football at the top level and, much like his fellow Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, that he lacks the mental strength to play for an elite team.
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These accusations have only been exacerbated as Karius has committed a string of notable errors in pre-season: first in the warm up of the Reds' game against Chester, then in their match against Tranmere and again, over the past weekend, in their clash with Borussia Dortmund.
Such errors have only intensified the criticism and abuse that the 25-year-old, so much so that he felt compelled to take to Instagram after Sunday's tie with Borussia Dortmund to address the people out there "who take joy" in his misfortune.
In the Instagram story post he said:
"To those who take joy in seeing other people fail or suffer, I feel for you. Whatever it is thats [sic] happening in your life to hold this much anger and hate, I pray that it passes and good things come to you."
The statement is a powerful one and illustrates that, despite what many people seem to naively think, footballers are not immune to self-doubt, insecurity and pain purely because of their enormous wealth.
What's next for Loris Karius remains unknown. The arrival of AS Roma keeper Alisson Becker at Liverpool for £67 million means that he will not be starting in goal for Jurgen Klopp in the coming season, and a number of supporters believe that a loan spell away from the spotlight may the best thing for the German.
