Sawt Falasteen - Karius getting 'back to the top' with promotion-chasing Schalke

Having endured a nomadic career since his two blunders led to Liverpool losing the 2018 Champions League showpiece 3-1 to Real Madrid, Karius is smiling again as his Schalke side stand on the cusp of returning to the top flight.

Six points clear in the Bundesliga Two, Schalke can seal promotion with a win at home to Fortuna Duesseldorf on Saturday.

Karius told AFP that while he never doubted his ability, he did wonder if he would ever get another chance to prove his worth on the big stage.

"Doubts about my performance, maybe not, but of course there are certain things you don't have the power to change," the 32-year-old said.

"Of course (I had) doubts if I can get the chance again to play at this level, if it will work out again.

"That I can deliver, I was pretty sure of, but it was more the circumstances around if I can get another shot or not, if someone will give me the trust again."

His performance in the 2018 final may linger in the mind, but Karius had formed a key part of Jurgen Klopp's side in their incredible run to Kyiv.

Days after the match, it also emerged that Karius had been concussed after taking an elbow to the temple from Real defender Sergio Ramos. However, he never played for the Premier League giants again.

Following loan spells at Besiktas -- a deal terminated early due to unpaid wages -- and Union Berlin, Karius joined Newcastle as a free agent.

He played just twice in two seasons and said he considered himself effectively "retired" at the time.

- 'A great story' -

But Schalke decided to take a punt on him a year ago and sporting director Frank Baumann praised Karius' impact and leadership since arriving, while comparing his plight to that of the club.

"Loris is absolutely a big performer for us. He's experienced, he's ambitious," Baumann told AFP.

"He wants to get back to the Bundesliga. You see that in every training session, every game.

"He also had difficult times, which matched well to the club here."

One of Germany's best-supported clubs and seven-time league winners, Schalke were Champions League semi-finalists in 2010-11 and finished second in the German top flight in 2018-19.

But when Karius, then a free agent, joined in January 2025, Schalke had suffered two relegations in three seasons and were dangling dangerously close to the second division's drop zone.

"This was my goal from the beginning, to bring the club and myself back to the top division," Karius said.

"I came in with this vision and I think it will be a great story in the end."

Initially the club's back-up 'keeper, Karius has established himself as number one, and he has been dominant this campaign.

Schalke have conceded just 28 goals, by far the fewest in the division, while no goalkeeper has more clean sheets than Karius' 11.

Now, Karius said he relishes the pressure of "the most difficult position in football".

"Goalkeeper is the position where the head matters the most," he explained. "Every step you put wrong can lead to a goal everyone will blame you for.

"If your head is not right, you're missing confidence and you'll make wrong decisions.

"But that's what I like about this position.

"There are a lot of games where you can save your team, where your team relies on you, needs you, and you can shine and deliver."

With a contract until 2027, Karius said he plans to stay on with Schalke.

"Right now, I don't see my future anywhere else," he said.

"We're really close now (to promotion), we just have to take the final steps."

B.AbuZeid--SF-PST