Tottenham Hotspur's goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is determined to rise above the criticism hurled his way and embody a leadership role within his youthful squad. The 27-year-old shot-stopper played a crucial part in securing Spurs' fifth consecutive victory with a hard-fought 2-1 triumph over Ferencvaros in the Europa League on Thursday.
This win marks a positive turnaround for Ange Postecoglou's young guns, who faced tough scrutiny after suffering back-to-back losses in the Premier League, quickly followed by a narrow win in the Carabao Cup at Coventry. Much of the criticism was directed at Vicario after Spurs conceded from a set-piece against Arsenal last month, but the Italian has rebounded commendably with vital saves and two clean sheets ahead of their upcoming match against Brighton.
Reflecting on his new role as one of the club’s vice-captains, Vicario stated, "I am very proud of that. It makes me feel important in the dressing room because we are a group of very young lads, very talented lads, but sometimes you need some experienced heads to manage situations and help them excel both on and off the pitch."
He added, "I'm truly happy about this, but I have to keep my focus on my game and ensure I'm performing at the top level. Criticism is part and parcel of football; one day you're in the spotlight, the next you're under fire. What can I do? I can’t control it, but I can focus on what I can manage — my performance."
Vicario's resilience mirrors the fantastic form of his teammate Brennan Johnson, who has been on fire with five goals in five matches following a social media cleanse aimed at silencing his detractors after the Arsenal defeat. Meanwhile, Dominic Solanke is also making headlines with three goals in three starts after a slow start following his £65 million transfer from Bournemouth.
Vicario congratulated Solanke on his return to the England squad, saying, "It’s a huge achievement as England is one of the top national teams globally. He deserves it. He brings intensity in pressing, link-up play, and a significant presence in the box, providing us with an attacking threat we’ve missed."
On Johnson’s latest performance, Vicario praised, "Brennan is a fantastic player. We know his quality inside the dressing room, and he showed this to everyone last night." Johnson's late goal solidified Spurs' victory, but the acclaim also fell to the young talents who started the match.
Seventeen-year-old Mikey Moore made a notable impression on his first start alongside other academy graduates like Will Lankshear and Archie Gray, with 18-year-old Lucas Bergvall putting in a solid performance for 65 minutes. Vicario commented, "They did brilliantly. Let’s keep pushing them and not allow them to relax. Mikey, in particular, is a fantastic young man with top-level commitment and dedication every single day. He has shown the world he’s a great player, and if he keeps putting in the hard work, the future is bright for him."