Stats behind Spurs GK Kinsky’s shocking early sub off vs. Atlético

Goalkeeper Antonín Kinsky endured a nightmare UEFA Champions League debut for Tottenham Hotspur against Atlético Madrid on Tuesday after being substituted just 17 minutes into the round of 16 after conceding three goals and committing two huge screamers.

The Czech U21 international’s performance was so humiliating that former England and Spurs goalkeeper Joe Hart, calling the match for TNT Sports, said he was “heartbroken for the boy” after manager Igor Tudor sent him off following his disastrous start.

Kinsky’s replacement equalizes the first goalkeeper ever replaced in the round of 16 (Gregory Coupet, Lyon, 2004 round of 16). Tottenham’s 3–0 deficit after 15 minutes was the first any team had gone that far in a Champions League knockout match, and their four goals conceded in 22 minutes was the second fastest in Champions League history (Real Madrid v Dinamo Zagreb in November 2011).

Kinsky, 22, had made his first appearance since the 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat at Newcastle United last October by Tudor, who dropped first choice Guglielmo Vicario after the Italian goalkeeper conceded 13 goals during a five-game losing streak.

But a Kinsky error gifted Marcos Llorente with Atléti’s first goal in the sixth minute, and a minute after Antoine Griezmann made it 2-0 in the 14th minute, Kinsky missed a clearance to allow Julián Álvarez to make it 3-0.

Tudor then replaced Kinsky with Vicario and the Spurs coach refused to look at the young goalkeeper as he left the field.

“I tried to make sense of it,” said Hart, a former Spurs, Manchester City and England goalkeeper. “My heart is absolutely broken for [Kinsky].

“He had a horrible 14 minutes, that slide and the third goal. I don’t know what to say. I’m just heartbroken for the boy.”

Paul Robinson, also a former Spurs and England goalkeeper, echoed Hart’s comments when announcing the match for BBC Radio Five.

“Wow, wow, wow!” Robinson said. “I’ve never seen that on a football pitch. What a huge call from coach Igor Tudor. Yes, the goalkeeper was at fault, but it destroys Antonín Kinsky’s confidence.”

Fiorentina goalkeeper David de Gea, a long-time starter for Manchester United, spoke on X in support of Kinsky.

“Anyone who hasn’t been a goalkeeper can’t understand how difficult it is to play that position,” he said. “Keep your head high and you’ll be back.”