Antonin Kinsky and the two world-class saves that raised Tottenham Hotspur’s survival chances

When Antonin Kinsky was substituted by Igor Tudor in the 17th minute against Atletico Madrid after a second calamitous mistake leading to a goal, it was suggested that his future at Tottenham Hotspur, and perhaps as a professional at the elite level, was finished.

Peter Schmeichel, perhaps the greatest goalkeeper in Premier League history and one more qualified than most to reflect on the psychology of the position at the highest level, predicted that Kinksy being hooked early with Spurs trailing Atletico 2-0 in a Champions League last-16 first leg tie at the Metropolitano would be a “moment that everybody in football will always remember every time they see or hear his name” at the time on CBS Sports, the competition’s broadcaster in the United States.

Loris Karius, who never truly recovered from his concussion-affected display for Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final, was the ready-made comparison. Tudor maintained that Kinsky would play again for Spurs, perhaps even this season, something not even the most optimistic of Tottenham fans would have been eagerly anticipating. But the 23-year-old was not consigned to others writing his story.

Kinsky has been steadily building toward a performance like the one he produced in Monday’s 1-1 draw against Leeds United since returning to the side to replace the injured Guglielmo Vicario against Sunderland last month. He had been impressive but it takes more than a few decent saves — with the free-kick stop late in second-half stoppage time in the 1-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers the pick of the bunch — and tidy distribution to entirely wipe the Madrid horror from the subconscious. He needed to produce something spectacular and he did against Leeds. Twice.

Given the potentially season-defining implications of his second show-stopping save, which saw him expertly tip a Sean Longstaff strike onto the bar, the first may go under the radar, but it shouldn’t. There were justifiable lingering doubts over Kinsky’s aptitude from crosses and corners — which he has gone some way to quietening over the past five matches — particularly after his uncertain display against Newcastle United in the 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat in October, twice conceding from wide deliveries that he should have dealt with better. But when Joe Rodon connected with Brenden Aaronson’s cross in the 21st minute, heading low at the far post towards Kinsky’s bottom-left corner, the goalkeeper dived down excellently to stop the former Spurs man from scoring, then clawed it away and gathered it. It was, by any measure, a world-class save, and only his second-best of the night.

His second outstanding stop was one of the best of the Premier League season. With every point potentially decisive in the battle for survival with West Ham United, Kinsky’s save in the eighth minute of stoppage time from Leeds United midfielder Longstaff, whose powerful effort from eight yards out was pushed onto the crossbar, kept Tottenham two points ahead of their relegation rivals.

“What stood out most about Kinsky’s save was the composure and discipline he showed in such a high-pressure moment,” says Matt Pyzdrowski, a former professional goalkeeper turned goalkeeper coach and The Athletic’s specialist goalkeeping analyst. “As the ball was played in behind, he resisted the natural temptation to rush out and close the angle, and instead stayed connected to the ground with short, controlled steps, subtly sliding toward his near post while continually lining himself up with the ball. With Micky van de Ven recovering across, Kinsky understood his responsibility was not to overcommit but to remain balanced and prepared for the shot.

“Technically, his set position was outstanding. He stayed neutral through his body shape — feet shoulder-width apart, chest slightly over his knees and hands held around waist height — which allowed his hands to stay free and reactive. Crucially, that positioning naturally placed his hands in the ideal zone to protect the upper half of the goal while leaving his legs available to seal the lower portion, very similar to the way David de Gea so often operated at his peak for Manchester United.

“Had Kinsky dropped lower or widened his base, he would have likely lost the explosive push needed to reach the shot while simultaneously locking his hands’ pathway to the ball. Instead, his compact, upright shape reduced the distance his hands needed to travel and allowed his reactions and coordination to take over. What was incredible was how quickly he managed to line his hands up with the ball and, frankly, how ridiculous it was that he could still generate the power to drive his right hand upward to make the save — which is not something every goalkeeper would have been capable of producing in that moment.”

Evidently, Kinsky is not “every goalkeeper”. Aside from his obvious talent as a distributor — with the perfect skill set in possession to enable Roberto De Zerbi to implement his style — and a shot-stopper, he has a first-class mentality to match. Nobody could have predicted Kinsky would rebound from Madrid so quickly, a night many thought would prove terminal for his career, and yet there he stood at the final whistle, taking in applause from the Tottenham fans as one of their most important and reliable performers.

Undoubtedly, those fans would have seen that game going differently. Mathys Tel found himself on both sides of staggering, first with that excellently curled finish to put Tottenham ahead, before a ludicrous decision to try an overhead kick clearance in the box, leading to Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s equaliser from the penalty spot.

To help Tel respond in a Kinsky-like manner, De Zerbi said he would give him “a big hug and a big kiss” in his post-match press conference. It leaves Tottenham just two points ahead of West Ham, who travel to Newcastle United on Sunday with survival the stakes.

So while Kinsky’s redemption arc may be complete, Spurs fans won’t mind if he adds another chapter to the story in their remaining games against Chelsea and Everton.

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