Loris Karius has opened up about the darkest period of his career as he prepares for a Bundesliga return with Schalke after helping the Ruhr club end a three-year absence from Germany's top flight. Karius's career changed dramatically after Liverpool's 2017/18 UEFA Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid in Kyiv, when two costly errors contributed to a 3-1 loss. Reflecting on the aftermath of that night, Karius admitted the impact went far beyond football. "I even thought about ending my career, but I was only 25 years old and could not just stay at home. After spells with Union Berlin and Newcastle United, Karius was without a club before joining Schalke in January 2025.