Antonin Kinsky's remarkable turnaround from a Champions League nightmare has become a beacon of hope for Tottenham Hotspur as they fight for Premier League survival. The 23-year-old goalkeeper, who endured a horrific performance against Atlético Madrid in March, has since delivered a series of decisive saves under manager Roberto De Zerbi, keeping Spurs in contention to avoid relegation.
Kinsky's lowest point came in the Champions League last-16 first leg on March 10, where his errors led to an assumption he would not play again for Tottenham this season. However, first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario's hernia surgery at the end of March opened the door, and Kinsky has seized the opportunity. De Zerbi, who took over at Spurs recently, has started Kinsky in all four matches since, and the Czech has responded with assured performances, including a stunning stoppage-time save to preserve a 1-0 win over Wolves.
"What he felt after Madrid, for sure, was a big, big motivation for him," De Zerbi said. "If you have pride, if you have dignity, if you have the right spirit, if you have character … he has all these values. He is playing very well." The manager has called Kinsky "an example" ahead of Monday's crucial home clash against Leeds United.
Spurs' recent victories at Wolves and Aston Villa have lifted spirits, but their home form remains a deep concern. Before the latest match week, Tottenham had the joint-worst home record in the league with Burnley—two wins, five draws, and ten defeats. In contrast, their away record ranks third-best. De Zerbi has tried to dismiss the home struggles as a coincidence, noting wins against Borussia Dortmund and Atlético in Champions League home games, but the discrepancy is glaring.
De Zerbi's approach is to maintain positivity. After a stoppage-time equalizer from Brighton in his first home match, he insisted, "If you ask me, against Brighton, we won. We didn't take three points, we took one point, but in my head, we won." He refuses to dwell on the past, focusing instead on momentum and mentality as Spurs face Leeds.
The goalkeeper situation remains fluid. Vicario has not returned to full training, and De Zerbi has been noncommittal about his future, hinting at interest from Inter Milan. "Vicario is still the first goalkeeper of Tottenham," De Zerbi said, but he added that physical condition and missed games complicate matters. Meanwhile, midfielder João Palhinha, on loan from Bayern Munich, is a player De Zerbi wants to keep, but he avoided firm statements about next season's squad.
Injury news is also grim for Dejan Kulusevski, who has missed the entire season with a knee injury. De Zerbi suggested the Sweden international's World Cup hopes are over, as he may only return for the final game against Everton to boost morale. "It's difficult to understand how he can play at the World Cup if he didn't play any games this season," De Zerbi said.
As Tottenham prepare for Leeds, the narrative hinges on whether they can exorcise their home demons, just as Kinsky has done. A slip from the goalkeeper could reignite criticism, but De Zerbi trusts his character. With three matches remaining, every point is precious, and Spurs will need their revival to continue if they are to secure top-flight status.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.
