There are many things this match will be remembered for. The goals, the errors, the disbelief that Tottenham Hotspur could be 4-0 down within 22 minutes. But mainly, it will be for the sight of goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky walking down the tunnel, a comforting hand over his shoulder, after he was brutally substituted in the 17th minute after two calamitous slips.
Kinsky’s Champions League debut went horribly wrong, leaving Tottenham not only needing to overcome a 5-2 deficit in the second leg against Atletico Madrid but also likely facing an inquisition over head coach Igor Tudor’s call to haul off his 22-year-old goalkeeper.
At fault for the first and third goals, Kinsky looked devastated. A slip allowed the home team to work the ball to Marcos Llorente, who lasered a first-time shot into the bottom-left corner in the sixth minute. After a Micky van de Ven slip had led to Antoine Griezmann’s goal and Atletico’s second, Kinsky botched clearing a back pass a minute later to give Julian Alvarez the easiest of chances.
Worse was to come as Robin Le Normand scored from a rebound after substitute goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario had initially made a great save. But Atletico are yet to keep a clean sheet in this Champions League campaign and with Pedro Porro’s 26th-minute goal, there was hope. But then came the second half and a sublime Atletico goal.
An unmarked Richarlison forced a save from Jan Oblak but Atletico’s lightning-quick counter-attack, which included a sumptuous Griezmann back heel, culminated in Alvarez putting the hosts 5-1 ahead. Dominic Solanke reduced the deficit but Atletico will take a handsome lead into the second leg as Tudor became the first Spurs head coach to lose their opening four games.
Elias Burke, Jay Harris and Dermot Corrigan analyse an incredible match at the Estadio Metropolitano.
Should Kinsky have been substituted?
With Vicario failing to convince Tudor that he should be Tottenham’s undisputed No 1, Kinsky’s first start since October had been rumoured for several weeks. And with Tudor suggesting the Champions League offers the opportunity for experimentation in his pre-match press conference, Kinsky was given the chance to prove he could step up.
But having been at fault for two of Atletico’s opening three goals, he was on his way down the tunnel after a calamitous 16 minutes that he won’t forget easily.
Distribution has been touted as one of Kinsky’s biggest strengths. In his run as starting goalkeeper in Vicario’s absence last season, his ability to play short, medium and long passes was clear. But after mis-kicking an attempted chipped ball over the Atletico press, leading to Llorente’s opening goal, it would have been advisable to take the Vicario approach — eliminate risk and send the ball long — at least until he had the opportunity to rebuild confidence in his passing.
But after another howler in possession, allowing Alvarez to tap what has to be the easiest goal he will ever score, Tudor had enough, replacing him with the Italian without offering any sympathy or support as he left the pitch.
It was a decision received with jeers by the Atletico faithful — but don’t think they were expressing solidarity with the Spurs goalkeeper. Every time Vicario touched the ball, Atletico fans whistled loudly, hoping he would make a similar mistake.
Half of the Spurs bench followed Kinsky down the tunnel, presumably offering words of comfort. For better or worse, the shirt now unquestionably belongs to Vicario, and Tudor’s biggest experiment yet proved a miserable failure.
Elias Burke
How did Spurs concede four goals so quickly?
Spurs imploded for the second time in six days. They conceded three goals in 13 minutes during last week’s defeat against Crystal Palace but went a step further in the Spanish capital and found themselves 4-0 down after 22 minutes.
Their collapse was triggered by Kinsky’s initial slip. He received a pass inside his own box from Cristian Romero but slipped as he struck the ball with his right foot and it bounced off his left, straight to Ademola Lookman. The ball ended up with Llorente, who drilled a shot into the bottom corner
This squad does not know how to respond to setbacks and the situation spiralled from there. Somehow, even though they lined up with a back five, holes were popping up throughout their defence.
Atletico’s second goal encapsulated everything wrong with this side. A simple long ball forward caused chaos as Djed Spence mistimed his header and then slipped before Pape Matar Sarr was weak in his duel with Llorente. Van de Ven slipped and Griezmann rolled the ball past Kinsky.
Kinsky’s second mistake presented Alvarez with one of the easiest goals he will ever score. Kinsky received a back pass from Van de Ven under no pressure but his left-footed pass towards Kevin Danso bounced off his right foot straight to the unmarked Alvarez, who had an open goal to aim for.
The goalkeeper, who turns 23 on Friday, was substituted afterwards, adding to the drama. It felt like interim head coach Tudor had just completely broken Kinsky by handing him his Champions League debut and then dragging him off so quickly.
The brutal sequence was completed in the 22nd minute when Vicario made a good save from a free kick but Le Normand pounced on the rebound. It was the end of the goals but the damage could have been much worse. Van de Ven escaped punishment for a rash challenge on David Hancko and Llorente fired wide from a great position inside the box.
Jay Harris
Is the tie over?
Atletico were aware of Tottenham’s struggles in the Premier League but their coach, Diego Simeone, said before the game that he did not see his own side as favourites in the tie, pointing to Spurs’ fourth-place finish in the league phase.
But things very quickly went in Atletico’s favour as they took advantage of Spurs’ complete defensive collapse. At 4-0 up, most observers — and the players on the pitch — must have thought the tie was over. But Simeone’s temper flared when poor collective defending allowed right-back Porro to pull one back for Tottenham within four minutes.
After half-time, Atletico ‘keeper Oblak was sharp to parry Richarlison’s header, and seconds later, Griezmann’s sublime touch sent Alvarez haring away behind the Tottenham defence. The former Manchester City striker calmly carried the ball clear and finished for 5-1.
That appeared to be that, but then Oblak passed the ball straight to Porro, leading to Solanke’s goal.
Simeone and his players should need no reminding that Atletico were 4-0 up by half-time against Barcelona in their recent Copa del Rey semi-final first leg, only to end up hanging on for a 4-3 aggregate victory after conceding three times in the return at the Camp Nou.
Given all Tottenham’s problems, Simeone’s side should still progress from next week’s second leg. But he will still be making sure between now and then that nobody thinks the tie is over yet.
Dermot Corrigan
What will Spurs do now?
Tudor, who replaced Thomas Frank on an interim basis, was supposed to stabilise the team and make them defensively solid.
But Spurs have lost all four games with him in charge — a club first. The decision-makers need to accept he was the wrong choice and sack him before it is too late.
Tudor has persisted with a variation of a 3-4-3 system in every match. Archie Gray has bounced from right wing-back to left wing-back to central midfield. Xavi Simons and Conor Gallagher have been left on the bench.
He has handled the squad poorly and it is no surprise the players are making erratic decisions on the pitch. The 47-year-old’s decision to haul off Kinsky, without even acknowledging him, was brutal.
The pressure and scrutiny also need to be cranked up on sporting director Johan Lange and chief executive officer Vinai Venkatesham. Tudor is the wrong fit but much of the blame should land on the people who hired him.
What did Tudor say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What next for Spurs?