Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas took responsibility for his mistake that led to a Borussia Dortmund goal during Tuesday's 2-2 Champions League Group F draw.
Madrid were 1-0 up through Cristiano Ronaldo's finish of a well-worked team move when Navas opted to punch a free kick from Dortmund's Raphael Guerreiro.
The Costa Rica international only succeeded in sending the ball directly at teammate Raphael Varane, and it rebounded off Varane's shoulder and face before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang tapped it into the net.
Navas made a string of saves both before and after Madrid retook the lead when Varane scored from close range. But the Costa Rica international was beaten when U.S. international Christian Pulisic crossed for fellow substitute Andre Schurrle to fire in a late equaliser.
Speaking to beIN Sports after the final whistle at the Westfalenstadion, the former Levante shot-stopper said he had been surprised by the trajectory of Guerreiro's free kick and not reacted well enough to push the ball to safety.
"In the end the team made a great effort," Navas said. "The first goal it is clear I made a mistake. The ball took me by surprise, I made a mistake and we paid for it. We must improve on these little details so we improve."
Navas reacted well to the setback and finished the game with eight saves, the most of any game for Madrid since joining in 2014, making it a busy first game since recovering from a heel operation undergone in early June.
"That is why I am here, to help my teammates," he said. "Despite being out for so long. The months seemed very long, but now I feel back and will keep working and trying to help my team."
Kiko Casilla played all of Madrid's first eight games this season, and Navas said that the two senior keepers at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu both "supported each other."
"I always have the same mentality, to train and work hard and be available for the coaches," he said. "Kiko has played very well, and we all support each other here. I am happy to be playing though, which is what every player wants."
Navas also said that on balance a draw had been a fair result.
"They had a chance at the end, but the team worked very well, we had chances too," he said. "I think we would have liked to win the game, but the draw is what we got."