'I feel stronger': Antonin Kinsky sends Tottenham message after Atletico Madrid errors | OneFootball

Deputy goalkeeper had a nightmare Champions League debut

Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky has reflected on his glaring errors against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, believing that he is “stronger” for it.

The Czech goalkeeper was called upon in a surprise selection by then manager Igor Tudor, who dropped first-choice shot-stopper Guglielmo Vicario to the bench for the big last 16 first leg at the Estadio Metropolitano.

Spurs found themselves 4-0 down inside 22 minutes in the Spanish capital, and Kinsky was at fault for two of the four goals.

He misplaced a pass while trying to play out for Atleti’s opener as Marcos Llorente punished him inside six minutes, and he then produced an airshot while trying to clear the ball from the onrushing Julian Alvarez, who capitalised to net the hosts’ third of the evening.

It led to Tudor hauling Kinsky off after just 16 minutes, replacing him with Vicario in a stunning first-half substitution.

"It was a moment, [my] debut in the Champions League, that I was dreaming of as a young boy,” Kinsky told Sky Sports.

“For me, this was the thing that I was going for. I was looking forward to it so much.

"Of course, after the game, I was sad that it happened but on the other hand, I was calm.

"I have good people around me who always give me good feedback, what they really think about it and they are honest with me.

“I spoke to them a lot, I listened to them, then I compared it to my feelings and they were similar.

“It was just to keep going and make sure that when the next opportunity comes, I will be ready again."

Subbed: Antonin Kinsky

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The Czech, who has been new boss Roberto De Zerbi’s No1 with Vicario nursing an injury, joined Spurs from Slavia Prague in January 2025.

“I would say I'm stronger by that one experience,” Kinsky continued on that night in Madrid.

"It's not like before I would feel weak, now I feel stronger because I [had that experience].

“You make it because you are strong already and it makes you just stronger and it helps you just to grow.

"There are always so many things to improve, so it just shows you the things that you can get better at or mentally to adjust a little bit the approach towards the game."

Kinsky underlined his importance to Spurs with a fine save to deny Joao Gomes in the 98th minute at Molineux last weekend, as De Zerbi secured a first win of his tenure.

The three points gave the north London club a lift in their bid to stay in the Premier League, although West Ham’s late victory to beat Everton meant that Spurs remained in the bottom three with four games to play.

"It was more the weight of the moment,” Kinsky said of his stoppage-time save.

“Everyone knows it's important, especially at the last minute because then you don't have time to add another one.

“It's very precious. If we didn’t bring three points from there, of course, it would be much more difficult now.

"We are not closer [to safety] but at least we didn't get further [away].”