Besiktas Manager Regrets Karius Loan Deal

By Max Wise

Besiktas manager Senol Gunes has expressed regret for securing Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius on a two-year loan deal after some poor performances from the German.

Karius joined the Turkish giants at the start of the season after Liverpool struck a deal for AS Roma goalkeeper Alisson Becker but his performances have not been of the required standard.

Karius made some high profile errors at Liverpool last season, notably in the UEFA Champions League final when he was at fault for two of Real Madrid’s three goals

The former Mainz 05 goalkeeper was in goal as Besiktas won 3-2 against Konyaspor in the Turkish Super Lig on Sunday, but manager Senol Gunes was unimpressed by his performance as he was again to blame for their opponent’s goals.

Karius has conceded 37 goals in his first campaign with Besiktas, and Gunes says he would have selected suspended 35-year-old Tolga Zengin in goal if he were available.

"He was at fault for the goals he conceded," Gunes said.

"Karius has gone a bit stagnant, something is wrong with his electricity, motivation, enthusiasm for the game.

"It has been like that since the beginning. He does not really feel a part of the team.

"It's something we haven't been able to work out and, of course, I am partly to blame for this.

"Something is wrong, [but] he has also been unlucky.

"[He] is talented but it hasn't worked out and we have a problem. Let me put it this way, if I still had Tolga available I would play him."