Arnte Slot’s Liverpool has only suffered two defeats all season: against Nottingham Forest (0-1) in the Premier League and against Tottenham (1-0) in the first leg of the League Cup semi-finals.
There is one aspect of the latter that draws powerful attention. The ‘Spurs’ had just lost three of the last five games and conceded 14! goals, almost three per game. The loss of Guglielmo Vicario – he played 60 minutes “with a broken ankle” in the 4-0 draw against City – created a ‘black hole’ in the goal. Fraser Forster’s poor performances – 13 games, 25 goals conceded and two clean sheets – were costing Ange Postecoglou’s charges points.
Hence, Tottenham decided to pay 16.5 million euros to Slavia – a record figure in the history of the Czech League – for Antonín Kinsky (Prague, 3-13-2003)… and to start him against the ‘ Pool’ just 72 hours! after his signing. “I will prepare to play and, if the coach decides to put me on, I will be ready. “I feel very good,” he warned as soon as he signed his signature until 2031.
He wasn’t bluffing. He made his debut against the ‘Pool’ (1-0) and has already kept as many clean sheets at home this season as Foster and Vicario combined (1-0). For ‘Sofascore’ he was the ‘MVP’: his six stops – four from inside the area – prevented 1.45 ‘Expected Goals’.
In addition, he showed another of his great skills: footwork. He came into contact with the ball 58 times and completed 32 of the 45 passes he attempted (71%).
Cech’s endorsement: “He has the ingredients to succeed”
It is not surprising that he arrived with the endorsement of the best Czech goalkeeper of all time: Petr Cech. “He has all the ingredients to succeed. The role he is going to have should suit him because the coach wants the goalkeepers to play with their feet, which is their great virtue,” the former Arsenal and Chelsea player told ‘The Playbook House’. .
The truth is that Kinsky (1.90 meters), more than Cech (1.96), despite their relationship, remembers Neuer (1.93). “They have some differences, but it seems bigger than it really is. It has presence and conveys a feeling of not being afraid,” a Bundesliga scout told ‘The Athletic’.
Kinsky looks bigger than he is. It has presence and conveys a feeling of not being afraid
However, in his signing for the ‘Spurs’, Kinsky alluded to a third goalkeeper: “I remember watching Tottenham’s matches in the Champions League, especially because I liked the style of Hugo Lloris, who occupied this goal for many years. He is, Therefore, it is an honor for me to follow in his footsteps.”
I liked Lloris’s style. It is an honor for me to be able to follow in your footsteps
Antonin Kinsky
One of the best goalkeepers in the Europa League
The Czech goalkeeper, who has not yet made his senior debut, has just shone with his own light with Slavia. According to ‘Opta’, he is the goalkeeper in the 10 major leagues with the best save percentage (83.3%), the one who has conceded the fewest goals per 90 minutes (0.37) and the one who has left his goal open the most times. zero (12).
In the Europa League, despite Slavia’s poor run of results, they have also left their mark with several worthy saves, especially in the draw against Ajax (1-1) and in the defeat against Eintracht (1-0 ).
He has also exhibited his great touch: he is the goalkeeper with the best passing success rate (83.9%) in the tournament. Tottenham have found a great goalkeeper… to be on guard.
