Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky subbed after 'absolutely horrific' 16 minutes against Atletico Madrid in UEFA Champions League

ByLeon Imber

TNT Sports expert and former England goalkeeper Joe Hart was left "heartbroken" after Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky was substituted after 16 minutes during the first leg of his side's UEFA Champions League last-16 tie against Atletico Madrid. In the commentary box, Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist were stunned by the developments as Atletico were gifted three early goals.

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky was substituted in the 16th minute after an "absolutely horrific" display which left TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher questioning head coach Igor Tudor.

The first of a series of errors came just after five minutes, when Kinsky - making his UEFA Champions League debut in the first leg of his side's last-16 clash against Atletico Madrid - slipped and passed the ball straight into the feet of Ademola Lookman, who played the ball to Julian Alvaraz before Marcos Llorente was teed up to fire home.

Antoine Griezmann then profited from Micky van de Ven's slip to tuck home Atletico's second. And if the evening had not already unravelled for Spurs, the following moments were simply catastrophic.

Just a minute after Atletico doubled their lead, they had a third, and it was again the consequence of Kinsky's slippery feet. Attempting a left-footed pass to Kevin Danso, he got little contact on the ball before going to the ground, teeing up Alvarez to tap into an empty net.

Immediately after going 3-0 down, Tudor prepared Guglielmo Vicario from the bench - opting to call an early end to Kinsky's European debut for Spurs. Tudor stood stoic on the touchline as Kinsky walked down the tunnel - not acknowledging his goalkeeper - who was supported by a member of the backroom team.

Having not played for Spurs since the 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup last 16, Fletcher was baffled by Tudor's selection between the sticks on a pivotal evening at the Metropolitano.

He said on commentary: "What's happening here? Kinsky is all over the place. Spurs three down in 15 minutes. They're getting Vicario ready down below us already. Tudor made the decision, he's going to change it. Kinsky seemingly can't handle it. Spurs can't handle it, and Atletico Madrid are three up. This is embarrassing.

"If he's going to take him off after 16 minutes, you are finished at the club as a goalkeeper. You can't come back from this if you're Kinsky. He's made the decision to start him, you can't then drag him at this stage can you? He's about to!

"By the way, that's on the manager, as much as it's on Kinsky. I feel for him."

Ally McCoist, next to Fletcher in the commentary booth, added: "I can't believe I'm watching this. He tries to play it, it's not even a good ball. He has to go long, he's got to put it behind the right full-back or something. It's horrific goalkeeping, absolutely horrific goalkeeping. Completely misses it with his left foot.

"You can make the argument he [Tudor] has to do it [substitute Kinsky] because he cannot make mistakes like that. They're schoolboy errors. He's made a mistake, changing the goalkeeper. That's an absolutely remarkable 14 minutes."

Fletcher remarked the last time he saw a goalkeeping performance so damaging was Loris Karius for Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final, when he was at fault for two of the goals in defeat to Real Madrid.

"He went through a spell where everything went wrong, and that affected him for a long time. I actually can't believe what I've seen," Fletcher said.

Former England goalkeeper and TNT Sports expert Joe Hart extended his sympathy to Kinsky, and was equally bewildered by the events unfolding before him.

"I've been trying to make sense of it, and my overall feeling is, my heart is absolutely broken for the lad," Hart said. "I know it's a tough school, it's the Champions League, it's such an important game.

"I said it before the game, he had an opportunity to give us the reason why he put him in goal. Was he getting an opportunity tonight? Was he just filling the gloves for one game? Who knows?

"I'm not making excuses for the lad, he had a horrible [start]. A slip and that third goal was just everything he didn't want to happen. I don't even know what to say. I've seen the lot, I'm just heartbroken for the lad. This Tottenham team is all over the shop at the moment."

Robin Le Normand extended Atletico's lead to four when he headed home on 22 minutes, before Pedro Porro struck to reduce the deficit four minutes later.

In the TNT Sports studio at half-time, TNT Sports experts Hart and Steve McManaman were left appalled by what they felt was poor man management by Spurs boss Tudor in failing to acknowledge the substituted Kinsky.

"You see Tudor doesn't even acknowledge his goalie," Hart said. "Does not even acknowledge him. If that's man management, I'm flabbergasted."

He added: "He's acted like that's not the 14th minute, and that doesn't happen at any level, I'm talking Sunday league. This is the Champions League.

"Yes he's had a bad moment. Has he done it on purpose? Course he hasn't. Stand by your team, send a message. No, stands there, pretends it's not happening, and moves on."

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McManaman added: "That's man management at its very, very worst. There's a gentleman behind, in black, he goes over and hugs him, two or three players hug him.

"That poor goalkeeper has had a terrible night after being chosen by his own manager, and for his manager has not even acknowledged him, go over and say sorry, don't worry about it, put his arm around him, do something to affect the situation. That is cold as cold can be. Ruthless."

Former Manchester United goalkeeper defended Kinsky on social media, posting on X: "No one who hasn't been a goalkeeper can understand how difficult it is to play in this position. Keep your head up and you will go again."

Alvaraz netted his second of the evening to stretch Atletico's lead to 5-1 on 55 minutes.

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