Dutch analyst René van der Gijp has delivered a sharp critique of modern goalkeeping after Tottenham Hotspur’s Antonín Kinsky endured a disastrous evening in the 5–2 defeat to Atlético Madrid.
The 19-year-old made two costly errors in the Champions League last 16 clash this week and was substituted after just sixteen minutes by manager Igor Tudor. That decision has triggered a wave of debate across Europe since.
Kinsky, handed his first Champions League appearance as a replacement for Guglielmo Vicario, struggled under Atlético’s high press. Tudor elected to remove him, later citing a need to stabilise the team.
‘Something Went Wrong in Modern Football’
The Croatian coach has been criticised for that choice. But Van der Gijp doesn’t agree, insisting that he fully understood Tudor’s decision.
“Of course you have to take him off,” Voetbal Primeur report him saying on Vandaag Inside.
“We were always told don’t pass to the keeper. Now they say you should pass to the keeper as much as possible.”
Van der Gijp cannot understand the modern obsession with playing out from the back. He feels that the choice is creating unnecessary risk.
“This will cost you elimination and a whole lot of money. It works with players like Piqué or Busquets, but not with everyone — and yet everyone tries it.”
Several former goalkeepers and pundits have criticised Tudor for substituting a young keeper so early, arguing that it can damage confidence long-term. Johan Derksen, though, believes the Tottenham manager was trapped either way.
“If you take the goalkeeper off, it’s considered pathetic,” Derksen said. “But if you don’t, you get criticised.”
A Symbol of a Bigger Tactical Divide
Kinsky’s nightmare evening certainly has ignited an interesting debate between old-school pragmatism and modern positional play. As Spurs regroup, the question is what they go for.
With relegation a significant possibility, it would not be surprising if they go for the former. Tudor’s attempts so far to change things certainly haven’t worked out.
Tottenham are currently on a six-game losing streak. He’s also the first manager in Spurs’ 143-year history to lose their first four matches in charge. That’s led to intense pressure already, the sort of situation that doesn’t usually encourage tactical boldness.