Sports psychologist explains how Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky can bounce back from ‘walk of shame’

Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky endured a brutal introduction to Champions League football on Tuesday, facing a "great walk of shame" after being substituted just 17 minutes into his debut against Atletico Madrid.

The 22-year-old Czech, selected by head coach Igor Tudor for Tuesday’s last-16 first leg, saw his opportunity quickly unravel. An early slip allowed Marcos Llorente to score after six minutes, followed by another goal conceded in the 14th minute when a scuffed clearance gifted Julian Alvarez an open net.

Kinsky was promptly replaced by first-choice Guglielmo Vicario, heading straight down the tunnel, accompanied by some Spurs substitutes and staff member Dean Brill.

Andrew Lane, a professor of sport psychology at the University of Wolverhampton, believes that while Kinsky "will not be in a very good place”, the painful experience at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano could ultimately forge a stronger player.

Lane explained the intense self-questioning Kinsky would be undergoing.

"Those types of mistakes, you will not be able to avoid them, but you have a real angry response at yourself," Lane told the Press Association.

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Lane was surprised by the lack of emotional support for Kinsky, with Igor Tudor failing to acknowledge him (PA)

"(He will ask), ‘Why did I fall over?’, ‘Why did I slip?’, ‘Why didn’t I have the right boots on?’ And you start introspecting – ‘Could I have noticed this in the warm-up?’"

The psychologist also highlighted a perceived lack of immediate emotional support.

"He will be going though all of those questions and feel real intense negative emotions, then (after) he did it again and to be pulled off – that in itself is the great walk of shame. (There was) not an immediate bit of emotional support from anybody as he comes off, which I think is quite surprising."

While Manchester United great Peter Schmeichel declared Tudor had "killed Kinsky’s career," Lane offers a more optimistic perspective.

"He has got a future (going) forwards, absolutely," Lane said. "The team have not been doing very well – and that is not all down to him. It is one game and everyone has a bad game, everyone makes mistakes."

Lane concluded by emphasising the value of such difficult moments.

"Negative emotions are quite good points of learning. You can sit in that dressing room and you can just say, ‘I am not going here again and I am going to make sure I am OK’.