Antonin Kinsky has thanked supporters for their messages after describing his difficult night in the UEFA Champions League as a “nightmare” following Tottenham Hotspur’s defeat to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old goalkeeper endured a challenging performance in the first leg of the last-16 tie in Madrid before being substituted early in the match.
Kinsky was replaced after just 17 minutes, with Tottenham already trailing 3–0. Errors by the Czech goalkeeper contributed to Atletico’s first and third goals as the Premier League side struggled in the opening stages. The Spanish club eventually secured a 5–2 victory in the match.
After the game, Kinsky posted a brief message on Instagram thanking fans for their support during the difficult moment. “Thanks for the messages. From dream to nightmare to dream again. See you,” he wrote, acknowledging the encouragement he had received online following the match.
Several Tottenham team-mates were seen consoling the young goalkeeper as he left the pitch.
Kinsky had been selected to start the match by manager Igor Tudor ahead of regular first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
Speaking after the game, Tudor defended his decision to substitute the player early, saying the move was necessary to protect both the goalkeeper and the team.
He added that selecting Kinsky had been the right choice before the match, particularly with the pressure on Vicario and the demands of competing in multiple competitions.
Former England goalkeeper David James said the situation was unusual but suggested the decision may benefit Kinsky in the long run.
He said that removing the goalkeeper early could prevent further damage to his confidence if the scoreline had become even more severe.
Tottenham will travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in their next Premier League match this weekend before the second leg of their UEFA Champions League tie next Wednesday.
