Miguel Angel Moya felt as "nervous as a novice" on Wednesday night when he made his first appearance for Atletico Madrid in 10 months.
The 32-year-old goalkeeper, who had last played for Atletico in a Copa game on Jan. 26, started in his team's 6-0 triumph at Guijuelo in the Copa del Rey round-of-32 first leg.
"It has been a long time without playing and more so for a goalkeeper," Moya told Onda Cero radio. "I felt nervous as a novice. It's a lot of emotion after 10 months."
Moya had started for Atletico in the 2014-15 campaign but an injury late in the season saw him lose his place to Jan Oblak.
The Spaniard underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee three months ago and recently returned to training.
"I feel like a footballer again and I'm thrilled," Moya said. "I couldn't have asked for more, to have kept a clean sheet and for the team to have won."
Moya knows the competition for a starting place at Atletico is fierce with Slovenia international Oblak in great form. Oblak gave away just 18 goals in 38 league games to win the Zamora award for the best goalkeeper in La Liga last season.
"We have a fantastic relationship," Moya said. "We are all professionals and we are both fighting for the same aim which is to start.
"He is very good and I just have to work and wait to have opportunities. I have played 13 seasons in the first division and mostly as a starter.
"I'm happy to be here. I want to give the most for the team and to train hard."
Wednesday's game was also significant for forward Roberto Nunez, 20, who scored on his first Atletico match and was one of four players to make his debut.
Nunez, who has been at the club since 2006, replaced Yannick Carrasco in the 59th minute and scored his team's sixth goal five minutes from time.
"This is the best day of my life. Besides scoring to help the team win, this goal is going to give me more confidence in my career," he told his club's website.
"Hopefully when I am given another chance to play for the first team, I will again be able to take advantage of it.
"I hope I can play more minutes with the first team."