Sunday 23 September 2018 20:10, UK
Loris Karius insists he did not flee Liverpool by sealing a loan move to Besiktas in the wake of his Champions League final mistakes.
Karius was at fault for two of the goals in Real Madrid's 3-1 victory over the Reds in Kiev, throwing the ball into Karim Benzema for the Spanish side's opener before later letting a long distance Gareth Bale shot slip through his hands.
The German returned to pre-season low on confidence and also produced a costly error against Tranmere.
Following the signing of Brazilian Alisson Becker from Roma for a then world-record fee of £67m, Karius opted to move to Turkey on a two-year loan deal.
The 25-year-old has now spoken for the first time on his Anfield departure, and has clarified that he has no issue with manager Jurgen Klopp.
"I have no problem with Jurgen Klopp, in fact we have a great relationship, he never blamed me (for the mistakes in Kiev)," Karius told German newspaper Bild.
"I could have stayed in Liverpool and played a few games, but I wanted to be number one and play regularly.
"Nobody told me to leave Liverpool and I didn't run away.
"I am at an age where I need to play regularly. After Alisson Becker's transfer I decided to move to Istanbul and join Besiktas.
"The pressure got so big at some points from the media and the public that Liverpool had to react, which was not good for my situation, but that happens in football."
After making such high-profile errors, Karius admits he still thinks about the events in Kiev now, and could not get them out of his head in the weeks following.
"I know that I will probably be asked a hundred more questions about it, but I can't undo it and I have finished with it," he said.
"I prefer to do that, rather than thinking about how long the Champions League final will be with me.
"It was a great season that ended with a very unlucky ending."
Karius added that he has not heard from Sergio Ramos since the final, despite the Spaniard catching him with an elbow which later proved to have caused concussion.
"I do not think he has my number. He is a tough player but I have nothing against him personally," Karius added.
"Under normal circumstances, I can not really explain the mistakes."