Three senior Tottenham stars tried to console Antonin Kinsky as the goalkeeper headed down the tunnel in tears during the Lilywhites’ 5-2 loss to Atletico Madrid.
Igor Tudor made a brave call by handing Antonin Kinsky his Champions League debut in place of Guglielmo Vicario. The Italian had started every single Premier League and European game for the Lilywhites this campaign until yesterday.
The decision backfired horribly for the interim Spurs head coach, who was forced to withdraw the goalkeeper after just 17 minutes following two poor mistakes by Kinsky.
The 22-year-old shot-stopper was distraught while coming off and was in tears, with Tudor not embracing the youngster as he went off.
The Three Tottenham players who consoled Antonin Kinsky
It would have been a horrible feeling for the Czech youngster, who had waited patiently for his opportunity, having last started a game for the Lilywhites back in October in a League Cup clash at Newcastle.
Kinsky was inconsolable as he made way for Vicario less than halfway into the first period, and The Telegraph’s Jason Burt has revealed on X that three Spurs players went over to console the goalkeeper.
Burt claims that Dominic Solanke, Conor Gallagher and Joao Palhinha followed the Czech goalkeeper down the tunnel at the Metropolitano Stadium.
Djed Spence sends a subtle but clear message to Tudor
The Tottenham interim coach did not embrace Kinsky or any of the other players he took off during the clash at Madrid.
Djed Spence went over to Tudor and tapped him on the shoulder to shake his hand when the full-back was withdrawn on 83 minutes for Xavi Simons.
That may have been the 25-year-old potentially sending a signal to Croat about what is expected and possibly even standing up for Kinsky.
- READ MORE: Igor Tudor reveals what he told Antonin Kinsky after hooking him 15 minutes into Tottenham howler