Igor Tudor has said his decision to substitute Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky was necessary following the goalkeeper’s ‘big mistakes’ against Atletico Madrid.
On his Champions League debut, Kinksy was withdrawn after only 17 minutes with Spurs trailing 3-0 to Atletico. The Czech slipped to gift Atletico an early opener, before an awful error handed possession to Julian Alvarez for the third goal.
In an incredible situation, Tudor took the decision to withdraw Kinsky and bring on Guglielmo Vicario in the immediate aftermath. Kinsky was in tears as he headed down the tunnel but Tudor has backed his decision, insisting it was the right choice to ‘preserve the guy and the team’.
Spurs conceded a fourth just five minutes after Vicario’s introduction from the bench on route to an eventual 5-2 defeat. It leaves their Champions League campaign all but over, ahead of the return in North London.
Speaking during his post-match press conference on the substitution, Tudor said: “It happens very rarely, I have been coaching 15 years and I never do this. It was necessary to do this, preserve the guy and the team. Incredible situation.
“Before the game it was right choice, in the moment we are in, pressure on Vicario. Tony [Kinsky] is a good goalkeeper. It was the right decision. After this, it is easy to say it’s not the right decision.
“I spoke to Tony afterwards – I said he is the right guy, a good goalkeeper, but unfortunately this happens in this big game, big mistakes. After that start to the game it was too much for us in this moment when we are fragile, weak.”
Read –Â The favourites to win the FA Cup following quarter-final draw
See more –Â Slot makes ‘difficult’ Galatasaray admission as Liverpool lose again
