"It's a disgrace" - Griezmann slams Igor Tudor for humiliating goalkeeper substitution
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
Atlético Madrid’s star Antoine Griezmann didn’t hold back from weighing in on the night’s biggest Champions League drama.
Details: After the Madrid side’s 5-2 victory, Griezmann, in an interview with FourFourTwo, took aim at Tottenham Hotspur’s coach Igor Tudor for his decision to substitute 22-year-old goalkeeper Antonín Kinský just 17 minutes into the match.
Let’s recall, Tudor’s decision to start the young Kinský instead of first-choice keeper Guglielmo Vicario proved disastrous. The coach’s gamble quickly backfired: the Czech shot-stopper made two costly errors, and by the 17th minute Atlético were already up 3-0, thanks to goals from Llorente, Griezmann, and Álvarez. Tudor’s response was as ruthless as it gets—he reversed the goalkeeper switch before the first half was even halfway through.
Griezmann, who was among those to force Kinský’s mistakes, surprised many post-match by coming to the young Czech’s defense. The Frenchman believes the coach’s move was unnecessarily harsh on the player’s mental state.
“I think it’s a disgrace. If the coach puts this goalkeeper in the starting lineup, he should stand by him until the end. Psychologically, this is an incredibly tough blow for Kinský,” Griezmann stated.
The match at the "Riyadh Air Metropolitano" turned into a goal fest. After Vicario returned, Tottenham conceded a fourth goal as early as the 22nd minute, and ultimately the game ended 5-2.
Reminder: Tottenham defender Pedro Porro voiced his support for Antonín Kinský following the goalkeeper’s disastrous Champions League debut.
