Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky has broken his silence on his nightmare Champions League debut with a cryptic social media post.
The 22-year-old made two woeful errors and was taken off after 17 minutes with Tottenham 3-0 down at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Spurs’ interim boss Igor Tudor did not even acknowledge him as he came off, a decision which was panned after he thrust Kinsky into the limelight for his first appearance since November.
Kinsky did not speak after the game but has now made a post on Instagram of him re-watching the match on television.
‘Thanks for messages. From dream to nightmare to dream again,’ he wrote on his Instagram Story.
Kinsky was not the only Tottenham player who struggled, with many slipping on the turf, including Micky van de Ven for the second goal, and they eventually lost 5-2.
Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky posted this message on his Instagram on Wednesday
The 22-year-old endured a nightmare evening as he made two major errors and let in three goals before quickly being subbed off
Kinsky gave the ball away with a terrible pass for the first goal and then messed his feet up as he swung to kick the ball for the third.
The fact that he attempted to make a pass when he was under pressure in the latter scenario has actually been interpreted as a sign of his confidence, rather than a player nervously crumbling.
And given how Tudor handled his removal, Kinsky has come away with considerable sympathy.
Joe Hart told TNT Sports after the game: ‘To get to this level, signed by Spurs, one mistake does not alter you. That is a technical error, but what precedes that… was it the right decision? Maybe it was. But what I saw after…
‘I hate being reactive because I like to know all the facts. But the fact he has taken him off in that situation having played him… he is young, 22, he is not a man, he has done nothing to try and hurt Spurs.
‘[He had] a couple of bad moments, but to rip him off in this situation and not even acknowledge the guy? Every single one of Tottenham’s players who are feeling the pain don’t know what to do. How is that good for him?’
He added: ‘It is a thing with ‘keepers, you have got to accept you will have nights like that. Everyone has them. Buffon, Neuer, Schmeichel. They have had moments, but everything that has gone on on top of it, he will feel so unwelcomed as far as the management is involved.
‘You have to be treated like a human, just a little bit. I understand the situation. This needs getting a serious grip of. Madness happens all the time in football. That was mad, maybe he didn’t handle it how he should have.
Tottenham’s caretaker manager Igor Tudor did not show any sympathy for Kinsky
Joe Hart led the criticism of the Spurs boss, who opted not to approach the player as he made his way down the tunnel
‘I saw the whole bench’s hearts drop. They are saying, “don’t worry we are here for you”. It’s the human side of things. If you aren’t willing to show it, that’s when it starts to divide.’
He also said at half-time: ‘I’ve been trying to make sense of it. I’m heartbroken for the lad. I know it’s a tough school, Champions League, important game. Before the game, he [Tudor] had an opportunity to give us a reason why he had put him in goal.
‘Was he getting an opportunity tonight? Was he just filling the gloves for one game? That felt like the message given to him. I’m not making excuses for the lad. He’s had a horrible 14 minutes, the slip and that third goal was everything he didn’t want to happen.
‘I don’t even know what to say. I’ve seen the lot. I’m just heartbroken, absolutely heartbroken for the lad. This Tottenham team is all over the shop.’
Hart added at half-time: ‘My heart dropped. Kinsky just slipping, we’ve seen a lot of it tonight. Ruthless from Atletico Madrid. It was an awful start six minutes in.
‘His confidence had evaporated. It’s such a difficult pass, he gets it all wrong, left foot onto right foot. It broke my heart. He’s had a bad 14 minutes, even the stadium is feeling sorry for him. Tudor does not even acknowledge him. I’m flabbergasted at that.
‘Yes he’s had a bad moment. Has he done it on purpose? Of course he hasn’t. Stand by your team. Send a message. But he stands there and acts like nothing has happened.’
Tudor, who is under immense pressure after losing all four of his games in charge of Spurs so far, did not console Kinsky and nor did any of his coaching staff.
It fell to senior substitutes Conor Gallagher, Joao Palhinha and Dominic Solanke to go over to him and comfort him as he headed down the tunnel.
And Tudor said after the game: ‘I am coaching for 15 years and never have done this, but it was necessary to preserve the guy and preserve the team. It was an incredible situation.
‘Before the game it was the right choice, with pressure on Vicario and Toni a very good goalkeeper. After this happened, of course, it is easy to say it is not the right decision.
‘Toni was sorry, he made an excuse for the team. He is a bright guy and a good goalkeeper. The team is with him. Me too. He understands.’
