New Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky confessed his debut in a 1-0 Carabao Cup victory over Liverpool was beyond his wildest dreams.
Kinsky only finished his permanent movement to the Spurs on Sunday from Slavia Praga, but a high -profile Deyet passed on Wednesday through Ange Postecoglou and played a vital role in giving his new club a slight merit in the semifinal first leg.
The 21-year-old made two key saves to deny Liverpool substitute Darwin Nunez in the second half, either side of Lucas Bergvall’s 86th-minute winner, before he embraced his sister in the stand at full-time after Tottenham held on for a precious triumph.
“Yes, I would say a win against Liverpool in the Carabao semi-final, one to nil with a blank slate, is a smart start,” smiled Kinsky.
“I am a big dreamer but still with the legs on the ground. Probably this dream I didn’t have so far, so I am so happy to experience this.
“I’m so pleased that my circle of relatives is here and that they saw it. I am satisfied for them.
While Kinsky had played 29 times for Slavia Prague this season and kept 14 clean sheets, it was a big decision for Postecoglou to immediately put his new addition behind a makeshift defence ahead of veteran Fraser Forster and Brandon Austin, who impressed against Newcastle on Saturday.
However, he paid off, since Kinsky’s composure in possession of the ball was greater than that of his companions youth international of the Czech Republic, more than satisfied to play from behind.
Kinsky reserved praise for Tottenham goalkeeping coach Rob Burch when he reflected on a dream debut.
Yes, the first half, I would say that’s how it was, but in the moment, I felt confident and that’s how I need to play later.
He told SpursPlay: “I enjoy gambling. I would say with confidence, but I don’t like to take risks. I still think there’s a difference between betting smart, betting confidently, and betting risky.
“I arrived 3 days ago. I had two formations, one complete with the team and another with the goalkeeping coach, so little by little I am getting to know the rhythm.
“Yeah, first half I would say is so-so but in the second half I felt confident and this is the way I want to play later on.
“I have to say the boys helped me a lot in the game because they wanted to play. They were confident as well.
“I also have to mention the traineres, all the coaches and especially the coach who spoke to me a lot, who gave me the vision of how the game looked and how the Premier League looked and now Carabao.
“It helped me a lot to have this data and to be paintings with it.
“I had the luck that I had the chance to save them (shots) and that it wasn’t any top bin or something like this, which happens in the Premier League a lot because I watch it a lot.
“Happy for the total club because I arrive, a great club, many other people concerned and everyone is very nice. Everyone helped me so much that I felt safe from the start.
For his part, Tottenham’s midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, showed that he is “all good” after leaving the area on a stretcher after an injury at 6 minutes.
Bentancur wrote in his Instagram story: “All good guys! Thanks for the messages. Congratulations on the Victory Boys!
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