It took Spurs less than half an hour to destroy all Champions League hope in their first leg tie against Atletico Madrid. Four calamitous goals highlighted the pathetic state of players and club.
Flashbacks to 2019
Returning to the venue where so many Spurs dreams came to die was a moment of reflection for many, especially with the context of the current state of the club. Despite this, the Lilywhites came in their masses accompanied by Mauricio Pochettino and maybe the slightest glimmer of a European miracle.
HE’S MAGIC, YOU KNOWWW! 🎶🇦🇷
— Spurs Army (@SpursArmyTweets) March 10, 2026
Mauricio Pochettino was on a flight full of #thfc fans into Madrid earlier today, ahead of watching our Round of 16 clash with Atletico Madrid! ✈️
📸 @JMS78 pic.twitter.com/tgFUpcJYGA
Could this round of sixteen tie be the distraction that fans so desperately needed? Or even a chance for the players to boost their morale ahead of a relegation run-in?
High Risk. No Reward
Igor Tudor's starting 11 selection was something that excited many Spurs fans including myself. Being bold in the midfield by excluding Gallagher and Palhinha for Gray and Sarr was, in my opinion, a welcome change. There is no doubt that Gallagher has not been an impressive signing for Spurs, with the promise of a grafting, tough midfielder has not really come to fruition.
Meanwhile, the versatile Archie Gray has continued to be the one bright spark in an unbothered group of players. The same thing can be said for Mathys Tel, who seemed to be one of the only other lads willing the players forward and taking on their man. The real talking point however, was the inclusion of Antonin Kinsky over a much-criticised Vicario. Vicario has needed a rest, and so the sentiment of dropping him for the Czech, was in theory sensible, but the idea of starting him in such a hostile game was too risky for some fans to get on board with.
Almost instantly, those fans were proved correct as Kinsky's slip within six minutes provided the chance for Atletico Madrid to take an important lead at home. Marcos Llorente's pinpoint finish marked the beginning of a complete collapse, with the Micky Van de Ven next to slip on Spanish soil, giving captain Antoine Griezmann the chance to slot home a second.
The Dutchman had already received his fair share of criticism in recent days, after a foolish foul against Crystal Palace last Thursday that led to a penalty and sending off. This error was so comical that it seemed like a deliberate attempt to throw the game. Before Atleti fans could compose themselves, Kinsky once again slipped in the penalty area, this time gifting a goal to Julian Alvarez. He was quickly substituted by Vicario.
At this point I was utterly speechless and laughing to myself at what I had just witnessed. To top this all off, a contentious freekick was scrambled in by Robin Le Normand essentially finishing off the tie within the opening eighth. Never before had I felt more humiliated as a Tottenham supporter. Never before had I been more ashamed at the so-called 'professionals' that were supposed to be wearing the shirt with pride. Pedro Porro's smart goal to lessen the embarrassing deficit didn't instil me with any hope and the players trudged off at half time, whilst a jubilant home crowd celebrated their all-but official qualification into the quarter finals.
Of course, some part of you has to feel sympathy for Kinsky and his errors, but at the same time, this was no way excuse to his performance. As a professional footballer for an 'elite' level club, any amateur mistakes are unacceptable. For the rest of the team, these performances in front of travelling fans, who pay their hard-earned money for this dross is disrespectful and worthy of wage dockings in my opinion.
This is the worst, most pathetic group of professional footballers in history
— Alex 𝓕𝓪𝓷 (@xAlexTHFC) March 10, 2026
Still a Second Half to Play...
Igor Tudor has already cemented himself as a tactically inept manager, but the tie on Tuesday also showed he was a pathetic man manager. It was spotted and mentioned by Joe Hart during the interval that he gave no acknowledgement to a clearly heartbroken Kinsky. As a manager, the least you can do is console a young goalkeeper, whose confidence has just been shattered. As well as that, the decision in response to the first 45 minutes was taking off Mathys Tel for... Connor Gallagher? To be quite honest the only thing I can assume there is that he is being rested for an important trip to Anfield on Sunday.
Before any sort of hope of a biblical comeback, Atletico broke away with Julian Alvarez netting his second and the hosts fifth. Substitute Solanke gave Spurs fans something to cheer about, bringing the deficit to three, smashing the ball past Jan Oblak and netting his third Champions League goal in as many games.
Igor Tudor and the players must hang his head in shame for this performance, not only for the way he conducted themselves. With Spurs embarrassingly behind, there was no desire to keep fighting and Atletico looked brilliant for the whole game. With the second leg next week, you wonder whether its worth just resting some players ahead of the dogfight at the bottom of the Premier League table. Morale, especially after this will be at an all time low and now I have little hope that the players can motivate themselves for these upcoming tasks. Meanwhile the fans will continue to arrive in their numbers and sing their hearts out. The question is, can the players live up to the desperation and make amends?
COYS
