Mark Flekken has addressed the moment of madness that dominated Bayer Leverkusen’s 2–2 draw with Newcastle United, accepting responsibility for the penalty he conceded — while also suggesting Nick Woltemade “cleverly” created the contact that led to the decision.
The former Brentford goalkeeper has faced fierce criticism this week after his error swung the momentum of a Champions League tie that Leverkusen had largely controlled. Early in the second half, Flekken attempted to dribble inside his own box under pressure from Woltemade, only to lose control of the ball before sliding into the Newcastle striker. Anthony Gordon converted the resulting penalty, dragging Newcastle level before Leverkusen were forced to fight for a late equaliser.
Images of Flekken hiding his face in his shirt captured the frustration of the moment — and the awareness that the error had invited Newcastle back into a game that should never have slipped away.
“Clear mistake, my fault” — but Flekken explains what happened
Speaking to BILD, Flekken made no attempt to deflect responsibility, though he believes Woltemade manipulated the situation well.
“Clear penalty, clear mistake, it’s my fault. Against teams like that, you have to survive the first 10 or 15 minutes of the second half. Giving away such a gift… it would be wrong not to be annoyed.” — Mark Flekken
He described the sequence as a breakdown in his usual exit strategy:
“You always try to have an exit strategy. Unfortunately, I didn’t have one in this case. If I could have cleared it out of play, I would have. I laid the ball to my left and lost control. And then what happened, happened.”
The goalkeeper admitted he considered playing the ball into midfield but feared placing a teammate under pressure — something that ultimately led to the far worse outcome.
Flekken also argued that Woltemade helped induce the penalty:
“I tried to stay beside him. He then cleverly stuck his foot out. I touched him. It doesn’t change the story anymore.”
Despite the mistake, he praised his teammates’ resilience:
“I’m very happy we showed such character in the end. The fact the lads could only reward themselves with a point hurts me the most.”
Why the moment matters
Flekken’s error came at a pivotal point in the game, turning what had been a controlled performance into an anxious battle. For a goalkeeper who prides himself on composure in possession, the mistake was particularly damaging — the kind that becomes a reference point in discussions about whether teams should invite pressure deep in their own box.
Mark Flekken's Newcastle penalty mistake also reinforces the mental burden keepers carry. As he himself noted: “If you make a mistake as a goalkeeper, it goes badly 19 times out of 20.” Those moments shape reputations far more than the routine saves supporters forget.
Flekken is right — but the responsibility is still his
In our view, Flekken’s assessment is both honest and revealing. Although some fans accuse him of blaming the attacker, the nuance is that Flekken did fully accept fault while simply acknowledging that Woltemade was smart in making the most of the situation. As anyone who has covered elite-level forwards knows, strikers are trained to force errors in high-pressure zones. Woltemade did exactly that.
Having analysed Flekken for several seasons, this kind of high-risk moment is part of the trade-off with sweeper-keepers: 90% of the time, their bravery builds attacks; the other 10% can be catastrophic. The key now is how he responds. His tone — reflective, accountable, disappointed — suggests he understands the magnitude.
A counterpoint worth noting: Leverkusen’s build-up structure gave him limited safe options. While the mistake is his, the environment contributed. Good teams learn from both.
Why this mistake won’t define him
Flekken’s reaction — acknowledging fault but also analysing the moment — is what elite keepers do. He framed the error as a process breakdown rather than panic. That matters. It means the correction is tactical, not mental, and Leverkusen will trust him to continue playing out from the back.
Key Insights
- Flekken admits his penalty error vs Newcastle was a “clear mistake” but says Woltemade was “clever.”
- He lost control while trying to dribble in his own box under pressure.
- Gordon converted the penalty, shifting momentum in the match.
- Flekken says he tried to avoid putting a teammate in trouble by passing into midfield.
- Leverkusen ultimately rescued a point but were left frustrated.
What’s Next
Leverkusen will hope Flekken quickly regains confidence ahead of their next Champions League and Bundesliga fixtures. Kasper Hjulmand is expected to stick with him, keeping faith in a goalkeeper whose strengths far outweigh isolated errors.
👉 Newcastle fans — did Woltemade win that penalty cleverly, or was it all on Flekken?
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