June 5 – So do we now know the real reason for one of most calamitous goalkeeping displays of recent years or is it too cynical to suggest we are just being fed convenient excuses?
Completely of the blue, doctors have revealed that Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius, whose two blunders gifted Real Madrid their third straight Champions League title, suffered from concussion during last month’s final.
The German has had tests in the United States where medics say he suffered from “visual spatial dysfunction”.
The impact was “likely” to have been felt immediately and that it was “possible” the injury “would affect performance”.
Karius collided with Real defender Sergio Ramos early in the second half of last month’s final when the score was still goalless. Earlier in the game Ramos’s challenge on striker Mohammed Salah had ended his game.
Doctors have not stated that this was the moment Karius was concussed. But minutes afterwards, he threw the ball against Real striker Karim Benzema and watched in horror as it rolled back into the net. He later let a long-shot from Gareth Bale slip through his hands for Real’s third goal.
In the aftermath of the 3-1 defeat, Karius disgracefully received death threats and told fans he was “infinitely sorry” though he may now be given the benefit of the doubt.
The German flew to the US on holiday after the final but Liverpool’s medical department were sufficiently concerned to have arranged a scan in Boston.
After being assessed at Massachusetts General Hospital and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, he is said to have shown “significant and steady improvement since the concussive event”.
“We expect him to make a full recovery based on the results of the examination,” added Dr Ross Zafonte, chief of physical medicine and rehabilitation.
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