Igor Tudor’s Antonin Kinsky decision backfires in Tottenham’s Madrid nightmare
Spurs were 3-0 down in 15 minutes after Tudor’s goalkeeper decision blew up in his face.
Tottenham’s Champions League campaign is all but over after Antonin Kinsky’s error-strewn display proved the catalyst for a punishing 5-2 loss at Atletico Madrid to heighten scrutiny on Igor Tudor.
Tudor hinted he may experiment for the last-16 first leg given Premier League survival was the priority, but his decision to play 22-year-old goalkeeper Kinsky backfired in spectacular fashion.
Kinsky’s scuffed clearance contributed towards Marcos Llorente’s sixth-minute opener and after Micky van de Ven slipped to allow Antoine Griezmann to make it 2-0, a terrible start turned into a nightmare.
Van de Ven passed back to Kinsky and another miscued pass by the Czech keeper allowed Julian Alvarez to walk the ball in, before Tudor replaced the shell-shocked youngster in the 17th minute on a horror 13th appearance for the club.
Spurs went 4-0 down after 22 minutes when Robin Le Normand headed in before some spirit was shown as Pedro Porro and Dominic Solanke scored in between another for Alvarez at the start of the second half.
The day had started with Tottenham fans serenading old boss Mauricio Pochettino on a flight to Madrid ahead of being invited to the match by Atletico and concluded with Tudor losing a fourth straight match to put the interim head coach on the brink after only 29 days.
This was Kinsky’s first appearance since October, but before he took centre stage Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak fumbled a cross.
It was a precursor to an extraordinary passage of football.
Kinsky’s first horror moment occurred when he slipped as he attempted a crossfield pass and Ademola Lookman found Alvarez, who teed up Llorente to slot home.
Tottenham did momentarily respond as Archie Gray passed into Mathys Tel and his long-range shot was routine for Oblak before another error made it 2-0 in the 14th minute.
A slip by Van de Ven after Pape Sarr’s pass allowed Griezmann to run through and fire beyond Kinsky, but the coup de grace occurred 92 seconds later.
Van de Ven passed back to Kinsky, who completely miscued his attempted pass and Alvarez walked the ball into the empty net.
Kinsky was crestfallen and planted his face into the turf before Romero walked over to Tudor and Guglielmo Vicario was immediately introduced after 17 minutes.
Vicario’s first involvement was to produce a wonder save to prevent an own-goal by Sarr, but Le Normand was first to the follow-up and his header crept over the line before Romero could clear.
With the score 4-0 after 22 minutes, the tie was virtually over but Porro reduced the deficit with a low strike in the 26th minute.
Richarlison headed straight at Oblak soon after before Romero headed against a post.
Spurs were fortunate Van de Ven avoided punishment for a crunching tackle on David Hancko and Llorente flashed wide before half-time.
Tudor introduced Conor Gallagher against his old club and Solanke as the second period got under way, with Tottenham fans signing for Pochettino.
Richarlison almost pulled another back for Spurs when he powered a header towards goal, but Oblak saved and Atletico restored their four-goal advantage instantly on the counter-attack.
Matteo Ruggeri’s clearance after Oblak’s save was expertly flicked by Griezmann into the path of Alvarez, who carried the ball forward and fired home.
There was still time for Solanke to pull one back in the 76th minute with a powerful finish and Van de Ven lifted over moments later, but Tottenham finished with nine men after Joao Palhinha and Romero were forced off after a sickening clash of heads in stoppage time on a painful night all round for the north London club.
