Tottenham interim head coach Igor Tudor has come under fire for replacing Antonin Kinsky less than 20 minutes into the Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid
Ally McCoist criticised Igor Tudor's decision to take off Antonin Kinsky after just 17 minutes, with Tottenham already trailing 3-0 away to Atletico Madrid. The young goalkeeper had conceded three early goals and endured a torrid spell at the Wanda Metropolitano before being replaced by Guglielmo Vicario.
Spurs continued their poor start with Kinsky, starting ahead of the dropped Vicario. Kinsky slipped and gifted Marcos Llorente a simple finish after just six minutes.
Micky van de Ven then lost his footing in the 14th minute, allowing the hosts another opening that Antoine Griezmann eventually converted to double Atletico's lead. Only a minute later, Kinsky was punished again when he lost possession, this time leaving Julian Alvarez to roll the ball into an empty net.
It was simply a night to forget for the 22-year-old. On co‑commentary, McCoist expressed sympathy for Kinsky and directed his criticism at Tudor.
"Finished. It'll finish him," McCoist said on TNT Sports. "There's no way back. Absolutely [that's on the manager]. You can make an argument he's got to do it as well, though, because you cannot make mistakes like that - they're schoolboy errors.
"It's proved he's made a mistake in changing the goalkeeper. That's an absolutely remarkable 14 minutes.
"The thing is, Atletico Madrid haven't even been asked to work for their goals. They've not been cut open, not played great football, played through them; they've been handed them on a plate.
"I feel for him. You can say what you like. Two horrendous errors. Was he right taking him off? Possibly. That doesn't make it - [Tudor] can't have any emotion for the lad, it's a disaster for him."
Meanwhile, former goalkeeper Joe Hart added: "I've been trying to make sense of it. My heart is absolutely broken for him [Kinsky].
"He had a horrible 14 minutes, that slip and the third goal. I don't know what to say. I am just heartbroken for the lad. This Tottenham team is all over the place."
Atletico struck three times within the opening 22 minutes before Pedro Porro pulled one back. Spurs went into the break 4-1 down, with Porro scoring their only goal of the first half.
Tudor remains under heavy pressure at the club after stepping in to replace Thomas Frank, who was dismissed just eight months into his tenure. The Croatian coach is still searching for his first win, and a Champions League exit looks increasingly likely despite a second‑leg tie at home next week.
In the Premier League, the Lilywhites are battling relegation. They sit just a point above the drop zone, with a daunting trip to Liverpool to come on Sunday (March 15).