It was one of the most extraordinary and brutal moments in recent football memory, leaving goalkeepers around the world in disbelief. Antonin Kinsky was substituted just 17 minutes into Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League round of 16 clash against Atletico Madrid after two costly errors.

How does a goalkeeper process such a harrowing experience? Martin Shejbal, the goalkeeping coach from Chrudim who previously worked with Kinsky, shared his insights in an interview with Flashscore.

A night to forget

The match quickly spiraled out of control. Atletico Madrid raced to a 3-0 lead within 15 minutes, with each goal stemming from mistakes by the visitors. Kinsky first slipped while clearing the ball, then Micky van de Ven faltered for the second, and the third followed another misstep by the Czech keeper.

After the second major error, Spurs manager Igor Tudor didn’t hesitate to take Kinsky off.

“Antonin and I still have a close relationship. He messaged me in the morning to say he’d be starting, and I told my friends, ‘Tony’s making his comeback.’ Fifteen minutes later, it was all over… I felt completely stunned. It was a real sporting tragedy,” said Shejbal, who coached Kinsky at Pardubice.

Coping with the aftermath

Kinsky reached out to Shejbal during the match but has not yet responded afterward, which Shejbal understood. “After a moment like that, you need your own space. But it’s heartening to see solidarity from goalkeepers worldwide—icons like Peter Schmeichel, Joe Hart, and David De Gea have reached out. That support will help him bounce back.”

On Tudor’s decision

As a goalkeeping coach, Shejbal reflected on Tudor’s choice: “It was a rare situation. Usually, a keeper is eager to make up for mistakes, and luck swings back. But I wouldn’t harshly judge Tudor; sometimes a substitution is like in ice hockey—a shake-up to try and change the game. It wasn’t personal against Tonda.”

Shejbal added that consulting with on-field leaders like Cristian Romero made sense. “In moments like that, the captain on the pitch is the key voice. The goalkeeping coach isn’t as crucial in real-time decisions when things are happening fast.”

The role of the pitch

Kinsky’s errors weren’t isolated; several Spurs players slipped. Shejbal explained, “Modern pitches vary a lot in grip. Choosing the right boots is almost like waxing skis. The ground can be soft on top but slippery beneath. I told Tonda five players slipped before him and ten after. He was just the last line of defense, so his mistakes were decisive.”

Mental resilience

“She was definitely broken leaving the pitch,” Shejbal said, “but mentally he’s strong. He’s surrounded by great people who will help him process it. His dad, a former goalkeeper, will guide him wisely. It’s tough, but I believe he’ll recover.”

Lessons and future prospects

Shejbal noted the positive: “A minute after a substitution, it’s history. You can’t change it—you just bounce back. The best thing was the teammates’ support in the dressing room; the positive energy was fantastic.”

Regarding Kinsky’s future, Shejbal suggested a loan could be beneficial. “We discussed it in winter because he wasn’t playing and had lost sharpness. With Tottenham’s current defensive struggles and the harshness of English fans, a move—even outside England—might help him regain confidence and form.”

In short, while the night in Madrid will haunt Kinsky, Shejbal believes the goalkeeper’s mental strength, support network, and potential strategic moves could help him recover and continue his career.