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Loris Karius: Moments like this are exactly why I wanted to remain here
Loris Karius was able to enjoy the atmosphere created by the Schalke fans during their 2-1 win against Hertha BSC on Friday evening (1/8), with the goalkeeper listing their support as one of the reasons the Royal Blues were able to get the season off to a wining start.
The 32-year-old shot-stopper has been part of several memorable matches over the course of his career, with the Bundesliga 2 season-opener against Hertha certainly making the cut. The match had been highly-anticipated for months, ever since being announced. “Moments like this are exactly why I wanted to remain here, because you don’t get this everywhere,” Karius said of the atmosphere at the ground. “To get to experience what happens here every week is simply incredible.”
The support from the fans played a large part in Schalke’s 2-1 win, with Moussa Sylla (16’) and Nikola Katic (23’) first-half goals paving the path to victory. “We were able to present a united front from the first minute on, together with 60,000 fans and create an absolutely fantastic atmosphere. The lads left it all on the pitch and we won the game due to our commitment and passion,” Karis said.
We were able to present a united front from the first minute on, together with 60,000 fans.
The goalkeeper was also impressed by the performances of two debutants on Friday night: Vitalie Becker and Peter Remmert. For Becker, the match marked his professional debut, while Remmert made his first start for the Royal Blues. “Both played incredibly well, especially given the amount of pressure that comes with the season-opener,” Karius praised. “It was great to see how they fit into the team.”
Katic, who joined the Royal Blues over the summer, also put in a strong showing by netting his debut goal for the side. Unfortunately for the centre-back, he will now miss the trip to 1. FC Kaiserslautern after picking up two bookings against Hertha. “It’s always tough when you’re missing a key figure in defence, but at the same time it represents an opportunity for other players,” Karius said. “Our young players proved against Hertha that they are capable of putting in a great shift.”
Conceded late on
The sole blemish on the evening came in the 89th minute, as Hertha were able to get a goal back. However, Karius has been able to put the moment behind him already. “It’s always tough to know what to expect or how well you’ve progressed during the first game,” the goalkeeper said. “Of course, I would have wanted to keep a clean sheet and end the game in a dominant manner, but you can’t prevent everything from happening.” The 32-year-old added, “We still managed to hold our own and can now take plenty of confidence with us into the next tough challenge that awaits us in Kaiserslautern. It will be a lot easier after the start we’ve managed.”
