Tottenham interim boss Igor Tudor is facing intense backlash after hauling off 22-year-old goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky just 17 minutes into their 5-2 Champions League collapse against Atletico Madrid.
Tudor’s gamble to bench regular starter Guglielmo Vicario backfired when Kinsky committed two horror errors, leading to a 3-0 deficit within the opening quarter-hour.
The manager immediately subbed the young Czech for Vicario, stony-faced and refusing to acknowledge Kinsky as he left the pitch.
Pundits and former keepers have slammed the move as a desperate act of “self-preservation.”
The defeat marks a dark milestone for Spurs: six successive losses for the first time in club history.
Since replacing Thomas Frank last month, Tudor has lost all four of his matches in charge, leaving the relegation-threatened side in freefall.
“I need to apologise to the fans,” Tudor said post-match. “It’s incredibly difficult to explain.”
With Tottenham’s season unraveling, many wonder if Tudor will even survive until the second leg.
