It was clearly one of the strangest moments in football history, and goalkeepers in particular were left stunned. Antonin Kinsky was sent to the dressing room after just 17 minutes of Tottenham Hotspur's Champions League round of 16 match against Atletico Madrid following two mistakes.
How does a goalkeeper's mind cope with such a humiliating evening? Martin Shejbal, Chrudim's goalkeeping coach who previously worked with Kinsky, tries to answer that in an interview with GoLiveResults.
The clash between Atletico Madrid and Tottenham was truly unusual. The Spanish side led 3-0 within a quarter of an hour, each goal coming after a mistake by the visitors.
Kinsky first slipped while clearing the ball, then Micky van de Ven lost his balance before the second. The third goal was preceded by another error from the Czech keeper.
And then came a decisive response: after the second major mistake, Spurs manager Igor Tudor took Kinsky off the pitch without hesitation.
"Antonin and I still have a close relationship, and he messaged me in the morning to say he'd be starting. I told my close friends that Tony was making his comeback. And 15 minutes later, it was all over... I felt completely stunned. It was a real sporting tragedy," says Martin Shejbal, who previously coached Antonin Kinsky at Pardubice.
Antonin contacted you before the match. Not afterwards?
"I messaged him during the match, when I saw what had happened. But he hasn't replied yet. I understand that, I'd probably react the same way. I think he'll get in touch again after some time.
"After a moment like that, you just need your own space. But I'm glad to see a wave of solidarity among goalkeepers worldwide. So many true icons have reached out. Peter Schmeichel, Joe Hart, David De Gea - these are men who have something to say about it. That's why I believe Tonda will bounce back soon, especially when he sees these guys standing behind him."