Dominic Solanke said Tottenham Hotspur’s collapse against Atletico Madrid in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League last-16 match was a one-in-a-million event.
Igor Tudor’s team conceded three times in the first fifteen minutes, including two goals after disastrous mistakes by goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, who was immediately substituted.
A Micky van de Ven slip also led to Atletico’s second goal as Tottenham imploded before staging a comeback of sorts, eventually losing 5–2.
Solanke’s goal at least gave Tottenham a glimmer of hope ahead of next week’s second leg in London, but he said it was difficult to recover from such a terrible start.
“It was clear that the first 20 minutes were difficult, very difficult conditions, which are one in a million,” Solanke told Sky Sports on Thursday.
«You never prepare for that. Learn more about dfsd. You prepare all week for a game, have a game plan and then things like that can happen, which is rare.»
“That left us with a mountain to climb, but I think overall we’re trying to take positives from it. We know we’ve got a game ahead of us.”
Kinsky’s slip for the first goal and then a stray pass for the third saw him dragged off by Tudor, who have been in the spotlight after losing all four games since being appointed interim manager following the sacking of Thomas Frank.
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He will still be in charge of Solanke’s away match at Solanke’s former club Liverpool on Sunday, when Tottenham will be desperate to avoid a seventh successive defeat in all competitions – a run that has left them hovering just above the Premier League relegation zone.
“We have been so good in the Champions League this year, but we know we have not been nearly good enough in the league,” Solanke said.
«It’s hard to put my finger on it but just one thing to change. I think we need to be better in every department. We’re trying to stay positive and want to change that.»
“We must be courageous, we must be strong and have full faith.”
Published on March 12, 2026
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