Karius: I was so down on my luck before that I didn't want to play anymore, but now I want to play for Schalke until I retire.

According to WAZ, when looking ahead to the future based on Jürgen Klopp's new start as Germany's coach, Karius said: "I don't know what his plans are. But I'm playing for Schalke now, and the conditions aren't bad. If I perform at a high level, maybe I can be a candidate." The 33-year-old added that he would "give his all for Schalke and then see what happens next."

At least, Klopp clearly understands what Karius can bring. Back in 2016, the newly appointed German national team coach brought the goalkeeper from Mainz 05 to Liverpool, even making him a regular starter at Anfield. However, this period ended abruptly after the 2018 Champions League final. Liverpool lost 1-3 to Real Madrid, and Karius suffered a concussion during the match, directly leading to two goals conceded. He has since revealed that he experienced a severe psychological slump afterward.

Karius said, "Before that, my career had been on the rise, and then I suddenly plummeted to rock bottom." He said that during that time he felt no one understood him, "I didn't want to train anymore, and I didn't want to play football anymore," and even began considering early retirement at the age of 25. He never played for Liverpool again after that Champions League final, and was subsequently loaned to Besiktas (2018-2020) and Union Berlin (2020/21 season), until he failed to secure a new contract from the Reds in 2022 and eventually left the club.

After two years at Newcastle United and six months without playing, Karius joined Schalke in early 2025, finally getting his career back on track. Last season, the former German youth international played a crucial role in Schalke's promotion, and now he wants to help the team return to the Bundesliga. He said, "I can totally imagine ending my career here. Right now, I'm not thinking about anything else." Karius emphasized that he feels very good at Schalke.

At his inaugural press conference on Friday, Klopp also offered words of encouragement to the potential newcomers: "I have many ideas. Everyone who is qualified to play for the national team should work hard. This is a new beginning. Some players will get opportunities they never expected."