Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky was subbed off after just 17 MINUTES, as crisis-ridden Spurs found themselves 3-0 down against Atletico Madrid. Kinsky, 22, got the nod over regular No.1 Guglielmo Vicario for Tuesday's Champions League round-of-16 first leg in the Spanish capital.
Despite putting his faith in him, Spurs boss Igor Tudor had seen enough when his side conceded a third goal on 15 minutes, with Kinsky having been at fault for two. "Wow, wow, wow," former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
"I have never seen that on a football pitch. What a huge call from the manager Igor Tudor. Yes, the goalkeeper was at fault but that is confidence destroying for Antonin Kinsky."
Spurs found themselves behind with only six minutes on the clock, as Marcos Llorente opened the floodgates. Antoine Griezmann doubled Atletico's lead before Julian Alvarez made it three after quarter of an hour.
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That was when Tudor decided to make the change and, in doing so, leave the Czech humiliated. Vicario replaced him but couldn't stop it from becoming 4-0 soon after his introduction.
Pedro Porro pulled a goal back to reduce the deficit, capping a wild opening 26 minutes at the Wanda Metropolitano. Joe Hart, another ex-Spurs goalkeeper, reacted to Kinsky's substitution by saying on TNT Sports: "I've been trying to make sense of it. My heart is absolutely broken for him.
"He had a horrible 14 minutes, that slip and the third goal. I don't know what to say. I am just heartbroken for the lad. This Tottenham team is all over the place."
Should Igor Tudor have subbed off Anthony Kinsky? Have your say in the comments section.
Tottenham paid Slavia Prague £12.5million to sign Kinsky in January 2025, handing him a six-and-a-half-year contract. The 22-year-old is yet to make his senior debut for Czechia but did receive his first call-up 18 months ago.
Spurs went into their clash with Atletico knowing that the Champions League is clearly their second priority for the rest of this season. Tudor's side are only one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League with just nine games remaining.
On Sunday, they travel to face Liverpool at Anfield. They'll then welcome Atletico for the return leg before a must-win game at home to fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest four days later.