Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois has confirmed he reached out to Tottenham Hotspur’s Antonin Kinsky to offer support after Kinsky’s challenging performance against Atletico Madrid. Several prominent figures from the goalkeeping world have also shown solidarity with the young shot-stopper.
Manager Igor Tudor’s unexpected decision to start Kinsky at the Metropolitano backfired significantly. Kinsky’s two slips directly led to two goals conceded within the first 15 minutes. Coupled with Micky van de Ven’s own misstep, Spurs quickly found themselves 3-0 down. Tudor subsequently substituted Kinsky for Guglielmo Vicario, marking the earliest performance-related goalkeeper change in Champions League history.
Courtois Sent Message of Support to Kinsky
Following Real Madrid’s 3-0 victory over Manchester City, Courtois addressed the Kinsky incident, telling Cadena SER that he had indeed contacted the Tottenham goalkeeper.
Courtois stated, “I didn’t watch it live as I was at a game with my son, but I received messages about it, saw the substitution, and reached out to him on Instagram to lift his spirits. It’s a difficult situation. While I haven’t experienced it to the same extent, I also faced significant criticism after the Ajax match here…”
David de Gea Also Backs Kinsky
Soon after Tuesday’s match, David de Gea, formerly of Atletico Madrid and Manchester United, posted a supportive message for Kinsky on his social media. Legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel also joined the chorus of support from the goalkeeping community.
No one who hasn’t been a goalkeeper can truly understand the challenges of this position. Keep your head up; you’ll bounce back.
Kinsky Sends Thanks for Reaction
The next day, following de Gea’s public support, Kinsky posted an Instagram story acknowledging the outpouring of messages, writing: “Thanks for the messages. From dream to nightmare to dream again. See you.”
This incident, almost unparalleled in football, saw much of the post-match criticism directed at Tudor for his decision to substitute Kinsky. While Kinsky will undoubtedly be linked to this event, Tudor clarified his choice was made to shield his goalkeeper from further pressure.
