With first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario's recent dip in form, Kinsky's promotion to starting goalkeeper had been increasingly discussed. When the 47-year-old coach Igor Tudor hinted in the pre-match press conference against Atletico Madrid that the Champions League was a stage for experimentation, Kinsky was indeed given a chance to prove his potential. However, the Czech reserve goalkeeper's debut in Europe's most prestigious competition turned into a nightmare.

In just the 6th minute, Kinsky slipped while kicking the ball out, resulting in a mispass. Marcos Llorente then punished the error, opening the scoring from a Julian Alvarez assist. Kinsky checked his boots after that goal, but by the third goal conceded, the 22-year-old goalkeeper had no more excuses.

In the 15th minute, just one minute after Antoine Griezmann doubled Atletico's lead, Kinsky made another mistake. He attempted a one-touch clearance but missed the ball from a teammate's back pass. Alvarez received this "gift", easily slotting the ball into an empty net to make it 3-0.

Kinsky missed the ball...

... accidentally turning it into an assist for Alvarez, who made it 3-0. *Screenshot*

This moment exhausted Tudor's patience, leading him to substitute Kinsky in the 17th minute, bringing Vicario onto the field.

"I have never seen anything like it on a football pitch. A very harsh decision from Tudor. The goalkeeper made mistakes, but this will completely destroy Kinsky's confidence," said former Tottenham and England goalkeeper Paul Robinson on BBC.

Former goalkeeper Joe Hart was heartbroken analyzing his junior's two errors. "My heart sank. Kinsky slipped, and we have seen that happen too often tonight. A terrible start. Atletico couldn't believe their luck. By the goal from the second mistake, his confidence was completely gone. It was a difficult pass, and Kinsky mishandled it completely," he said while commenting on TNT Sports.

In his first 16 minutes of Champions League action, Kinsky touched the ball five times, made two direct errors leading to goals, made zero saves, and conceded three goals. He became the first goalkeeper in Champions League history to be substituted within the first 20 minutes of a match without an injury.

As the goalkeeper, born in 2003, dejectedly walked towards the tunnel, he was escorted by two members of the coaching staff. Half of the Tottenham bench followed to console him. In contrast, Tudor offered no gesture of encouragement.

Coach Igor Tudor (wearing a cap) ignored Kinsky as he substituted him.

Hart was displeased with how the Tottenham coach avoided looking at Kinsky as he passed the technical area. "The entire stadium felt sorry for him," said the former Manchester City goalkeeper. "Kinsky walked past Tudor, but he didn't even acknowledge his presence. If that is man management, I am truly speechless. He stood there and pretended as if nothing had happened. Kinsky certainly didn't do it on purpose."

Robinson also expressed frustration with Tudor's conduct after the match. "The young lad had a terrible night, a slip, then another mistake. But substituting him at just 22 years old, taking away his opportunity like that, how can that be good for his development?" said the former England number one goalkeeper.

English legend Steve McManaman added: "It would only take the coach five seconds to say, 'I still support you.' This image is terrible. He does nothing to help the career of a young player."

Meanwhile, goalkeeper David de Gea wrote on social media platform X while the match was still ongoing: "Only those who have stood in goal truly understand how brutal this position is. Keep your head up, you'll be back soon!"

Kinsky was consoled by captain Cristian Romero after the Tottenham coaching staff announced the substitution. *Photo: Reuters*

Kinsky dejectedly left the field. *Photo: EPA*

The home fans of Atletico were unsure how to react. Some whistled when the substitution was announced, while others applauded in encouragement as Kinsky left the field. On one hand, their team had just gone 3-0 up and had victory all but secured. On the other hand, they felt sympathy witnessing a young player suffering a mental breakdown.

The Champions League once witnessed a similar case with Loris Karius, whose errors led to Liverpool's defeat against Real Madrid in the 2018 final. That match left Karius with severe psychological trauma; he later admitted he suffered a concussion and never played for Liverpool again.

Hoang Thong