former keepers berates Tudor’s decision to sub keeper

Former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson says Igor Tudor’s decision to substitute Antonin Kinsky in the 17th minute of their Champions League last-16 tie at Atletico Madrid after conceding three goals was “very selfish” and “blatantly for self-preservation”.

De Gea also spoke to comfort the keeper “No one who hasn’t been a goalkeeper can understand how difficult it is to play in this position,” De Gea wrote.

“Keep your head up and you will go again“

The 22-year-old endured a nightmare start and interim boss Igor Tudor quickly replaced him, at 3-0 down, with usual first-choice Guglielmo Vicario.

“The manager certainly hasn’t helped Kinsky at all,” Robinson told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast.

“Nobody will understand where he is and there is nobody who knows you’ve made a mistake more than you as a goalkeeper.

“Unfortunately it is a very lonely place and that has been highlighted and magnified by the manager making that substitution.

“Him making that change after 16 minutes is going to be talked about worldwide. For him that will be soul-destroying.

“He’s probably sat alone in the dressing room for the rest of the first half, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was in tears in that situation.

“It’s a really difficult thing to handle, but I think actually it’s a very selfish decision from the manager because he knows that he’s not here for long. He’s making decisions that he thinks will keep him in a job and keep Spurs in the Premier League.

“It was a very selfish decision. He bought Kinsky in because Vicario has been poor in the league and I think he thought if Kinsky did well he had an excuse to keep him in for the rest of the season.

“He reverted on that decision very early. I’ve never seen a manager substitute a goalkeeper so early and so clearly as a result of mistakes. It’s quite blatantly for self-preservation for the manager because he thinks it was the best decision for him at the time without consideration for the young goalkeeper.”.