Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp made an ‘incomprehensible’ decision when he chose Lorius Karius over Simon Mignolet at the Premier League giants, former Belgium international Rene Vandereycken tells Het Belang van Limburg.
It’s not as if Karius’ disastrous performance in the 2018 Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid – tears falling after gifting goals to Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale – came like a bold out of the proverbial blue.
Karius, in the build up to that 3-1 defeat in Kiev, was hardly covering himself in glory between the sticks at Liverpool, the German making a series of high-profile errors even before his misplaced throw cannoned of Benzema’s shins and trickled into the back of the net.
And Vandereycken believes that Mignolet’s stunning performances for Club Brugge in recent times, the 34-year-old ageing like a fine wine, act as further proof that Klopp backed the wrong horse.
“I found it incomprehensible at the time that Jurgen Klopp chose Karius over Mignolet,” Vandereycken says, highlighting his compatriot’s virtuoso performance in the 0-0 draw with Atletico Madrid that secured Club Brugge a place in the knock-out stages for the very first time.
“(Mignolet’s) performances in recent years, and certainly now in the Champions League, only confirm that (Klopp made a mistake).”
“Mignolet is having a brilliant Champions League campaign. His presence is a great asset for Club. Thanks to him, they can get through difficult moments. That’s not luck, that’s a quality.”
Jurgen Klopp chose Loris Karius over Simon Mignolet at Liverpool
Belgian giants Brugge are the only club not to concede a goal so far in Europe’s elite club competition. That outstanding run of form continued in the Wanda Metropolitano; Mignolet rolling back the years while denying Antoine Griezmann, Alvaro Morata and Matheus Cunha at the death.
“What Simon Mignolet showed today, again, keeping a clean sheet for the fourth time, that’s fantastic,” Club Brugge’s general manager Vincent Mannaert tells VTM.
“At the moment, Mignolet is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. A world-class goalkeeper. Belgium have (Real Madrid’s) Thibaut Courtois and Simon Mignolet, who are among the top five goalkeepers on the planet.
“What he has shown in the first four games (in the group-stage), it’s great. With his performances and his attitude, he gives confidence to the young players. He’s more than an excellent goalkeeper. He’s someone who is capable of raising the level of the group.”
Mignolet joined Club Brugge for just £6 million in 2019. Karius, meanwhile, did not make a single appearance for Liverpool after that nightmare evening in the Ukrainian capital. The German joined Newcastle United on a short-term deal following his release in July.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
