Antonin Kinsky has paid tribute to fans and his support network after bouncing back from a humiliating night in the Champions League to help save Tottenham from relegation. The Czech goalkeeper insists his Atletico Madrid nightmare already feels like a 'long time ago.'
A Remarkable Turnaround
Kinsky has produced one of the best stories of a disastrous season for Spurs, as his comeback from his lowest point to hero has been nothing short of remarkable. The keeper was substituted after just 17 minutes of Tottenham's Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid in March, and his top-flight career looked to be over.
It was Tottenham caretaker boss Igor Tudor who received more stick for throwing Kinsky in to start and then hauling him off after his errors. That could have finished weaker players, yet Kinsky has produced three huge saves during the run-in which ultimately preserved Tottenham's top-flight status.
Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi put his faith in Kinsky after No. 1 Guglielmo Vicario needed surgery and then also stuck with the stand-in keeper. Kinsky made a brilliant save at Wolves to secure their first win, which transformed the season, and then an incredible last-gasp stop against Leeds' Sean Longstaff, which must go down as one of the best of the whole campaign.
He also produced another jaw-dropping stop to deny Tyrique George on the final day, thwarting any hope of a last-gasp Everton fightback that would have sent Tottenham down.
Putting Madrid in the Past
When asked if Madrid feels like a long time ago, Kinsky said: 'No, it feels as long ago as it actually was. The season was not about Atletico for me. 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.'
'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.'
Gratitude to Coaches and Fans
Kinsky also paid tribute to De Zerbi for his turnaround in fortunes, as well as the coaching staff who have helped him look a top-class keeper. 'I have to say, for me crucial were two people. It was 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.'
'I don't need to describe even more because they know it. I just want to mention them because they were the most important people for me in this moment. 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 paid tribute to the Tottenham fans who stuck with him through that dark moment in Madrid, and now he has become a huge favourite. They also know that he has played through the pain barrier with a small ankle niggle to play in the run-in. He will miss the World Cup—he is not his country's first choice—to get it fixed for next season.
He added: 'I'm aware of the fans because when I stand on the pitch, I feel the support. This is the best thing a player can get. Definitely, the confidence and everything should be dependent on the preparation and the mentality of the player. But when you go out there on the pitch and sometimes the fans cheer your name, or generally the support is huge, like it was before the game against Everton when we were arriving, it gave me so much energy.'
'If they are thankful and grateful to us, then I have the same towards them because they make the club special. Of course, there are people inside the club, but the size of the club is based on the fans, and this is incredible.'
