Unfortunately for Mike Penders, his costly mistake in Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat to Tottenham will be remembered for some time. In his first Premier League start, the Belgian goalkeeper punched the ball into his own goal from a Spurs corner despite facing little pressure from Jean Paul van Hecke.

Penders then conceded a second goal to Mathys Tel’s long-range effort as Chelsea suffered just their second home defeat to Spurs in the Premier League era. The Blues’ No. 2 has since been ridiculed on social media and will need considerable mental strength to bounce back.

The 21-year-old is expected to start at least Chelsea’s next three games before the November international break, with Emiliano Martinez sidelined by a broken jaw. Here is the lesson Penders can learn from Tottenham’s Antonin Kinsky, who kept a clean sheet at Stamford Bridge last weekend.

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LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 04: Estevao of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on October 04, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

What Mike Penders can learn from Antonin Kinsky

Mike Penders’ own goal against Tottenham was one of the worst mistakes you will ever see from a goalkeeper, especially at the highest level. Given that many fans were watching him for the first time, the error could tarnish his reputation for the foreseeable future.

However, there is no reason Penders cannot bounce back from his howler and develop into the world-class goalkeeper many expect him to become. He should take inspiration from Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, who endured an even bigger nightmare against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League earlier this year.

Kinsky conceded three goals in 15 minutes in the last-16 tie, two of which came after the goalkeeper slipped with the ball at his feet. Interim Spurs manager Igor Tudor then replaced him with Guglielmo Vicario after just 17 minutes.

Kinsky was benched for the return leg and Tottenham’s next Premier League game, but he returned to the line-up for the run-in and played a crucial role in helping Spurs avoid relegation, with the club winning three of their final five league games. The Czech international has retained his place under Roberto De Zerbi in the 2026/27 season and has been solid, keeping three clean sheets in eight league games, including in the 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge.

Penders can learn from Kinsky’s resilience and take confidence from the fact that his Chelsea career is far from over. With Emiliano Martinez injured, he knows he will get at least three more opportunities to show Xabi Alonso what he is capable of and put his mistake against Spurs behind him.

The youngster’s next test will not be easy, with the Blues travelling to Anfield to face an in-form Liverpool side in the fourth round of the EFL Cup. They then face Manchester United and Sunderland in the league before Penders joins up with the Belgian national team for a two-week international break.