Antonin Kinsky’s former goalkeeper coach has shared what he said to the Tottenham shot-stopper before and after his Champions League debut.
The Czech shot-stopper had to wait nearly five months to start a game for Tottenham and was handed a big chance to stake his claim for the number one role in a Champions League tie away at Atletico Madrid.
Yet, what followed was a disastrous 17 minutes for the 22-year-old, who was hauled off by Igor Tudor after making two early mistakes.
Some of Kinsky’s Tottenham teammates rushed to console the young goalkeeper as he made his way down the tunnel in tears after being substituted.
Antonin Kinsky’s former coach was ‘completely stunned’ by Tottenham nightmare
Martin Shejbal, who was the Czech shot-stopper’s goalkeeping coach at Pardubice, described the youngster’s Champions League debut as a ‘tragedy’.
He revealed that he got in touch with the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper both before and after the events of Tuesday night at the Metropolitano Stadium.
Shejbal told FlashScore: “Antonin and I still have a close relationship, and he messaged me in the morning to say he’d be starting. I told my close friends that Tony was making his comeback. And 15 minutes later, it was all over… I felt completely stunned. It was a real sporting tragedy.”
When asked if Kinsky contacted him after the match, Shejbal said: “I messaged him during the match, when I saw what had happened. But he hasn’t replied yet. I understand that, I’d probably react the same way. I think he’ll get in touch again after some time.
“After a moment like that, you just need your own space. But I’m glad to see a wave of solidarity among goalkeepers worldwide. So many true icons have reached out. Peter Schmeichel, Joe Hart, David De Gea – these are men who have something to say about it. That’s why I believe Tonda will bounce back soon, especially when he sees these guys standing behind him.”
Martin Shejbal says he would not have taken off Kinsky
The Tottenham star’s former coach claimed that he would not have taken the goalkeeper off despite his nightmare start to the game.
However, Shejbal also defended Igor Tudor’s decision, suggesting that the Croat had little choice but to change something, given the way the game was going.
When asked what he would advise a head coach in a situation like the one with Kinsky, Shejbal said: “It was a rare situation, and even with hindsight, I wouldn’t have intervened for an immediate substitution. When a keeper is in goal, he’s waiting for every moment to make up for a mistake. Usually, luck swings back his way. But even though I say that, I certainly don’t want to join the criticism of the coach that’s coming from all sides.
“Everyone’s criticising Tudor now, saying he’s ruined the young keeper’s career. But I don’t really think that’s the case. I don’t believe the substitution was aimed specifically at Tonda. The score was 3-0, and you simply need to do something.
“It was a bit like an ice hockey situation. Sometimes you send a player out to start a fight or swap the goalie to shake things up. The match looked lost, but you still want to try to turn it around somehow. He chose this solution. In a way, I understand him.”