Keylor Navas “I made a mistake”

In an interview posted on UEFA’s website, the Costa Rican Goalkeeper admitted that it was his fault for the the team walking away with a 2-2 tie at the Westfalenstadion.

The team put in a great effort. It is evident in the first goal I made a mistake.

It took me a bit by surprise, I took the wrong decision and it cost us a goal. We will work on those details so it doesn’t happen again.

I felt calm during the whole game despite the long months I’ve been out. Thanks to god I am back and able to help my team-mates.

My mentality doesn’t change. I have to train hard, improve and it is the coach’s decision (who plays).

- Keylor Navas (Source)

Navas struggled to hold shots most of the night. He was caught out on a free kick from Raphael Guerreiro, where he punched the ball into the path of Raphael Varane and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. It glanced off Varane and Aubameyang was there for the tap-in, tying things up after Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring.

One thing about having a World Class goalkeeper is that even though he let in what some would call a howler, (pundit Taylor Twellman called it, brutal) he composed himself and didn’t let it affect his entire night.

After having the summer off recovering from an achilles surgery, there’s bound to be some rust. I even questioned the decision to start Navas in a Champions League match as his first match back in the team.

There’s a reason I write about Real Madrid and Zidane running the club. Zizou took a risk starting Navas who hadn’t played in months over a more in-form Kiko Casilla. In the second half, Navas made key stops that kept Madrid in the game and they were able to preserve the tie and walk out of the Westfalenstadion with a point.

Champions League Match Day 3 will see Los Blancos at home against Legia Warsaw on October 18th.