Kinsky credits goalkeeper coaches and De Zerbi for Tottenham survival heroics after Madrid horror

Antonin Kinsky has described his Champions League nightmare at Atletico Madrid as feeling like “a long time ago” after a series of match-saving performances helped Tottenham avoid Premier League relegation in the final weeks of the season.

The Czech goalkeeper was hauled off after just 17 minutes of Spurs’ Champions League defeat in Madrid in March, a moment that appeared to threaten his top-flight future. Yet Kinsky recovered to produce three decisive saves during the run-in — at Wolves, against Leeds’ Sean Longstaff in the closing seconds, and on the final day to deny Tyrique George and extinguish Everton’s hopes of a late comeback — that collectively secured Tottenham’s survival.

“The season was not about Atletico for me,” Kinsky said. “Of course for the fans, definitely yes, because it was a big moment to be knocked out of the Champions League and this played a big part. But for me, the six months on the bench were definitely harder than this one moment. The preparation made me feel well in this moment.”

Kinsky was thrust into the starting role after first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario required surgery, with caretaker manager Igor Tudor selecting him for the Atletico fixture before substituting him following early errors. New head coach Roberto De Zerbi subsequently retained Kinsky and the keeper repaid that trust with a string of high-quality performances.

Speaking about the key figures in his recovery, Kinsky was emphatic in singling out the club’s goalkeeper coaches. “I have to say for me crucial were two people — Dean Brill and Fabian Otte, the goalkeeper coaches,” he said. “Since the start of the season which was going bad for me, they just helped me so much. Every training we did we were pushing, we were doing so much every day. I’m really grateful to them.”

He added that De Zerbi’s arrival provided a further lift, but insisted the daily work with Brill and Otte remained the foundation of his resurgence. “Of course then the coach came and he lifted everything. But for me, these two people are the most important, apart from my family, because I spend every day with them. We just work, we just push, we just prepare and that’s the key for this moment.”

Kinsky also pointed to self-belief as central to his comeback. “It was just about believing, working, because I know I do the right stuff, I’m able to work, I’m able to perform well. I have the confidence based on the work that I do.”