Loris Karius: Sergio Ramos Never Apologised for Clash in Champions League Final

Besiktas goalkeeper Loris Karius has spoken out about the lost UEFA Champions League final with Liverpool against Real Madrid in which he committed two blunders, saying Sergio Ramos never apologised for hitting him in the head. He also said only the defender knows whether it was on purpose.

Speaking to Bild (h/t AS), the German said last season was still a great one for him, even if it ended in such a bad way. He also stated the tests showed the incident with Ramos had an impact on his play:

"I think I've achieved something great by playing in that final and I won't allow anyone to ruin that on me. Last year was a great one with an unfortunate final, but in sport, you have to rise above the disappoints. Nobody can ever know the relation between the injuries I suffered and my errors on the field. It's not as an excuse, it's just an explanation.

"I don't know if Sergio Ramos injured me on purpose, only he knows that, but it's not important. He never apologised to me. The test they did on me showed that I suffered a visual disability. In normal conditions, I couldn't explain this error."

Liverpool lost 3-1 after Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale both took full advantages of mistakes from Karius. Video showed the former Mainz star took a blow to the head from Ramos minutes before the first blunder, however, and many believed the errors were a result of that.

In June, Dr. Ross Zafonte and Dr. Lenore Herget of the Massachusetts General Hospital released a statement confirming their tests revealed the 25-year-old had suffered a concussion. As reported by ESPN FC's Mark Ogden, Liverpool's own medical team urged the stopper to have the tests after they feared he had suffered damage.

In the same final, Ramos was also involved in an incident with Mohamed Salah that left the Egyptian unable to continue. The two separate incidents turned the Spain international into a public enemy in the city of Liverpool.

The 32-year-old has never shied away from physical play and has the disciplinary record to show for it:

Despite that record, he's regarded as one of the best defenders in the world. His 2017-18 campaign resulted in yet another selection to the FIFA FIFPro World 11:

Liverpool invested in a new star goalkeeper during the summer, bringing Alisson Becker to the Premier League from AS Roma. The move all but ended Karius' time at Anfield, as he joined Besiktas on loan and appears unlikely to return to the club in the future.

Karius has yet to keep a clean sheet for Besiktas this season in three league matches and a UEFA Europa League outing.