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Karius mistakes a shame, says Klopp
AFP
Last Updated IST
Liverpool's coach Jurgen Klopp walks past the trophy after the Champions League final.
Liverpool's coach Jurgen Klopp walks past the trophy after the Champions League final.

Devastated Jurgen Klopp admitted he was shell-shocked by Loris Karius's costly mistakes in Liverpool's Champions League final defeat against Real Madrid on Saturday.

Karius was in tears after the final whistle, but tellingly not one of Liverpool's shattered players went over to immediately console him.

Only Madrid's jubilant stars acknowledged the German's angst before, still sobbing uncontrollably, he went toward Liverpool's supporters to hold his hands up in an attempt to apologise for his blunders.

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While he wouldn't publicly condemn Karius, Reds boss Klopp made it clear the difference in the match was the mistakes made by the man he signed from Mainz in 2016.

"Yeah, what can I say? Loris knows it, everybody knows it. It's a shame, in a game like this and after a season like this. I really feel for him, he is a fantastic boy," Klopp said.

"The first one...I don't know. The second one came because of the first one.

"It is really difficult to get rid of bad thoughts in your mind in a game like this."

Aside from Karius's woeful display, the other crucial turning point was the first half injury suffered by Mohamed Salah.

"The situation with Ramos and Mo was really bad a shock for the team. You could see that, Madrid immediately came up," he said.

Klopp endured his sixth successive final defeat -- a painful run that includes losing the 2013 Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund against Bayern Munich.

"Finals are for winning, nothing else. We started well, exactly like we wanted," Klopp said.

"But the Bale bicycle kick was unbelievable. The boys did their best, but it was not the best script for us tonight."

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(Published 27 May 2018, 15:48 IST)