After Tottenham Hotspur stayed up on the final day of the Premier League season with a 1-0 win over Everton, Roberto De Zerbi revealed in his post-match press conference that he had considered handing Antonin Kinsky the captain’s armband for his first game in charge against Sunderland.While he decided to stick with club captain Cristian Romero for the 1-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light, it was an admission by De Zerbi that he didn’t quite know or understand the conviction of the character he had inherited between the sticks. Three weeks before De Zerbi’s arrival, Kinsky had made two mistakes in Spurs’ Champions League last-16 tie against Atletico Madrid, but the Italian backed his goalkeeper.“I wasn’t,” Kinsky says, when asked whether he was aware at the time that De Zerbi was considering handing him the armband. “I’m quite happy he didn’t do it. He wanted to encourage me after what happened against Atletico. On the other hand, when he came, he knew me. He knew that I don’t need any encouragement.”Kinsky might well be the most self-assured player at Tottenham, and you would be hard-pressed to find a more confident player anywhere else in the Premier League.Antonin Kinsky was in fine form during Tottenham’s pre-season win over Chelsea in Sydney on Saturday (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)On the surface, that seems a slightly ridiculous statement. The Premier League is full of superstars, some of whom are his team-mates. Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes have just joined the club for a combined £185million ($250m). Tottenham beat off Manchester City and Manchester United for their signatures. Kinsky joined the club 18 months ago for £12.5million and has made just 13 Premier League appearances. The Czech goalkeeper is uncapped at senior international level.And that’s before you consider the psychological damage that his mistakes in Madrid could, and probably should, have caused. Being substituted in the 17th minute and leaving the pitch in tears after early mistakes in a 5-2 defeat is the kind of Sliding Doors moment that can end a career at the top level. As it transpired, it turned out to be the start.“All I need is to hear that (De Zerbi) is confident in me, that he trusts in me, and that he gives me some time on the pitch,” Kinsky, 23, told reporters at Spurs House, a dedicated fan space in Sydney showcasing the club’s identity and history. “That was key because, as I said in all the interviews after the Atletico game, I was feeling well in that game. Even after the game, what happened happened.