Tottenham Hotspur’s dismal campaign plunged to fresh depths on Tuesday evening as goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky endured a nightmare debut in the Champions League, hauled off after merely 17 minutes during a catastrophic collapse against Atletico Madrid.
The 22-year-old Czech, selected ahead of first-choice Guglielmo Vicario by interim boss Igor Tudor, twice lost his footing to present goals to Marcos Llorente and Julian Alvarez.
His substitution marked one of the most extraordinary moments in recent European competition, with even the home supporters at the Metropolitano offering sympathetic applause as the devastated young keeper departed the pitch, consoled by his teammates.
The carnage unfolded at a bewildering pace during those opening 23 minutes, producing some of the most remarkable Champions League action witnessed in recent memory.
Antonin Kinsky was subbed off after 17 minutes during an incredible opening half
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REUTERS
Kinsky’s first slip came after just six minutes, sending the ball directly to Ademola Lookman, who teed up Llorente for a composed finish.
Defender Micky van de Ven then lost his footing to gift Antoine Griezmann a second, before Kinsky fell once more whilst attempting a clearance, allowing Alvarez to stroll the ball into an empty net.
Robin le Normand bundled in a fourth following a goalmouth scramble.
Pedro Porro’s low strike offered brief respite, whilst Dominic Solanke also capitalised on Jan Oblak’s own clearance error.
Igor Tudor finds himself under huge pressure after four defeats in a row
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Tudor now confronts mounting scrutiny over his position following a fourth consecutive defeat since taking charge on an emergency basis.
The Croatian arrived with a reputation for delivering immediate results during his varied managerial career, yet the situation has arguably deteriorated further under his stewardship.
Spurs find themselves in genuine peril, sitting just a single point above the Premier League relegation zone.
The club’s hierarchy face another pivotal decision as they attempt to salvage a season spiralling out of control.
Their next assignment offers no respite whatsoever: a daunting trip to Anfield on Sunday to face Liverpool.
A nightmare moment for Kinsky on his debut as his mistake leads to Llorente’s opener for Atlético Madrid ⚽️@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/SsHpJxYNIz
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 10, 2026
Steve McManaman, speaking on TNT Sports, painted a bleak picture of the squad’s mental state.
“They look lost, a lot of the players, don’t they? Of course, they’re trying their heart out, they don’t want to be in a relegation battle, they know what Tottenham is all about,” he observed.
The former England international highlighted the mounting injury crisis, noting that all three central defenders departed the match whilst Palhinha suffered a concussion.
A second mistake from Kinský allows Álvarez to make it three for Atlético Madrid inside 15 minutes ⚡️@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/zeWZlu53Lf
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 10, 2026
“Tonight, forget about the result of the game, the overall optics have made things a lot, lot worse. I didn’t like the manager’s behaviour tonight,” McManaman added.
