Joe Hart: Spurs goalkeeper decision ‘on the manager’

March 11, 2026 Oliver Obel

Tottenham suffered a heavy 5–2 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday, after a disastrous start forced manager Igor Tudor into the rare step of replacing his goalkeeper inside the opening 20 minutes.

The night quickly unraveled for Spurs at Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium. Atletico raced into a three-goal lead within the first 15 minutes, putting the visitors under immediate pressure.

At the center of the early chaos was 22-year-old goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, who was making his Champions League debut. Two costly mistakes during Atletico’s early scoring burst prompted Tudor to substitute him in the 17th minute, bringing on Guglielmo Vicario.

Such early goalkeeper changes are extremely unusual at the top level, highlighting the severity of Tottenham’s opening collapse.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Tudor acknowledged that his decision to start Kinsky ultimately proved to be the wrong call.

“After you see what happened, is for sure the wrong decision, but it was for me the right decision to do, thinking before [the match] because the team [was] changing competition, it was the right moment to do [it],” Tudor said.

The Croatian coach explained that the rapid sequence of errors left him little option but to act.

“Unfortunately what happened, what happened, so I changed the goalkeeper after 15 minutes. It's not easy.”

‘Very strange’ night for Spurs

Tudor described the match as one of the most unusual experiences of his managerial career, saying the early mistakes left Tottenham struggling to recover.

“We don't need to comment, it's not the moment to speak too much. Strange game. It happened. We gave them three goals. We didn't start well, and the problems killed us. Very strange, very unusual,” he said.

“Everything looks like it is going wrong; it's unbelievable. It looks like everything is going against us.

“I need to help. I need to keep working. Not speaking too much, stay focused on what we can do. It's difficult to explain, the first time I have seen this 15 years in my career.”

Spurs never fully recovered from the early deficit, leaving them with a major challenge heading into the return leg.

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Pundits question Tudor’s handling

The incident also drew criticism from analysts on TNT Sports during the broadcast.

Former Liverpool winger Steve McManaman said Tudor should have shown more support to the young goalkeeper after substituting him.

“That poor goalkeeper has had a terrible night after being chosen by his own manager and his manager has not even acknowledged him, go over and say sorry, don't worry about it, put his arm around him, do something to affect the situation,” McManaman said.

“That is cold as cold can be. Ruthless.”

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart also questioned the original selection decision while commentating on the match.

“What's happening here? Kinsky is all over the place. Spurs three down in 15 minutes. They're getting Vicario ready down below us already,” Hart said.

“Tudor made the decision, he's going to change it. Kinsky seemingly can't handle it. Spurs can't handle it, and Atletico Madrid are three up. This is embarrassing.”

Hart suggested that removing the goalkeeper so early could have lasting consequences.

“If he's going to take him off after 16 minutes, you are finished at the club as a goalkeeper. You can't come back from this if you're Kinsky,” he said.

“By the way, that's on the manager, as much as it's on Kinsky. I feel for him.”

Tottenham now face a daunting task in the second leg if they are to overturn the deficit and keep their Champions League campaign alive.

Sources: TNT Sports broadcast, Sky Sports