Tottenham Hotspur manager Igor Tudor, who has come under fire, has been reported in Spanish media about his plans following his side’s 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night. The Croatian’s choice to use Antonin Kinski between the posts was singled out by journalists, while the manager’s tactical decisions in the Champions League last-16 first leg were also heavily criticized.
Tudor selected Kinski ahead of Guglielmo Vicario for Diego Simeone’s side. The Czech shot-stopper was responsible for two of the opening three goals, losing his footing and giving up the ball in Marcos Llorente’s early goal, and then missing a clearance to score Atleti’s third goal straight to Julian Alvarez. In unusual circumstances, Tudor removed Kinski in the 15th minute, not even recognizing the young goalkeeper as he trudged off the pitch.
Spanish magazine Us has slammed the former Marseille manager, criticizing Spurs’ overall performance and even drawing comparisons between Kinski and former Liverpool keeper Loris Karius, who famously made two devastating mistakes in the Reds’ defeat to Real Madrid in the 2018 Champions League final.
“Tudor’s decision hit him like a ton of bricks. 1-0. And that was just the appetizer. The main course was coming quickly, because Tottenham are a dead team. Zombies,” they said.
“It’s a disgrace. It’s a ghost. It’s a tragedy. It’s a living surrealism. It’s no joke. It doesn’t matter who plays, whether[Mickey]Van Deven returns to the starting eleven, whether Richarlison plays up front, whether[Conor]Gallagher waits on the wing or whether Kinski scores.
“Play some circus music. There’s no other way to explain what happens next. Kinski dressed up as Karius and refused to take off his disguise. Turn up the volume.”
This was not the end of Spaniards’ scathing evaluation of the Tudor dynasty’s consuls. SPORT was equally perplexed by the Spurs coach’s call.
“Igor Tudor, who surprised everyone with his decision, replaced him in the 17th minute and brought on Vicario in his place. This move sealed the fate of the young goalkeeper, who was making his debut in continental competitions,” they wrote.
Asked about the decision to use Kinski after the loss, Tudor admitted, “If you look at what happened, it was definitely the wrong decision.”
“But for me, it was the right decision (before the game), because for the team it was a change in competition. Unfortunately, what happened is what happened. I’ve never changed goalkeepers after 30 minutes, but it wasn’t easy, it happened.”
Asked after the game if he had spoken to Kinski, Tudor said: “It’s normal. There’s no need to comment. It’s not the right time to say much.”
He continued: “It was very strange. It was unusual and I lost confidence. Then we restarted. We had a good chance to make it 4-2, but we conceded and it became 5-1. I’m sorry to the fans and everyone.”
Tudor has lost all four games he has managed at Tottenham. The pressure is not letting up either, as Spurs are due to face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday in a pivotal week for the season.
A loss to the reigning Premier League champions could see Spurs slip into the relegation zone if the results combine in favor of West Ham and Nottingham Forest. The Lilywhites then host Atlético in the second leg of the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday 18th March.
