Dominic Solanke believes Tottenham Hotspur’s dramatic collapse against Atletico Madrid in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League last-16 clash was a “one-in-a-million” occurrence.

Igor Tudor’s side conceded three times in the opening 15 minutes, with two of the goals coming after calamitous errors from goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, who was immediately substituted.

A slip from defender Micky van de Ven also led to Atletico’s second goal as Tottenham imploded early on before staging a partial comeback, eventually losing 5-2.

Solanke’s goal gave Tottenham a glimmer of hope ahead of next week’s second leg in London, but the striker admitted it was difficult to recover from such a disastrous start.

“Obviously the first 20 minutes were difficult, very difficult circumstances which are one in a million,” Solanke told Sky Sports on Thursday. “You never prepare for that. You prepare all week to go into a game, have a game plan and then stuff like that can happen, which is rare.

“That gave us a bit of a mountain to climb, but overall we try to take some positives. We know we’ve still got another game.”

Kinsky’s slip for the first goal and then a stray pass that led to the third saw him replaced by Tudor, who has come under intense scrutiny after losing all four matches since being appointed interim manager following the sacking of Thomas Frank.

Tudor will still be in charge for Sunday’s away trip to Solanke’s former club Liverpool F.C., where Tottenham will be desperate to avoid a seventh successive defeat in all competitions — a run that has left them hovering just above the relegation zone in the Premier League.

“We’ve been so good in the Champions League this year but we know we haven’t been anywhere near good enough in the league,” Solanke said. “It’s hard to put a finger on it and just change one thing. I think we need to be better in every department. We’re trying to stay positive and want to turn it around.

“We need to be brave, we need to be strong and have full belief.”

Tottenham currently sit 16th in the Premier League table, just one point above West Ham United and Nottingham Forest.