Former Italy goalkeeper Luca Marchegiani praises Guglielmo Vicario for his impact at Tottenham but suggests one area in which the 28-year-old can improve.
Big step to move to Tottenham
Vicario has been a massive hit since his move to Spurs, and is ideal for the way Ange Postecoglou wants his side to build up from the back.
He was a bit of an unknown quantity to Premier League fans when he made the switch from Empoli, and Marchegiani has now praised him for getting out of his comfort zone and challenging himself.
He told Football Italia about Vicario: “He is a goalkeeper I really like and he showed bravery in making the move to a very complicated division like the Premier League. It helped him grow and he also did well to immediately prove he was up to the task.
“There was some confusion at first in Italy as to whether he could continue the performances at Empoli in a top club, but he proved at Tottenham that it was easy for him.
“I am glad to see Guglielmo work his way up from Serie D to the Premier League and Italy, which is rare for a goalkeeper to not be spotted earlier in his career. He did well not to let his head drop and realise dropping down some divisions was not a failure.”
Vicario needs a cool head
Spurs fans will tell you that Vicario is an extremely emotional and expressive guy, who is not shy of having a go at his teammates when they make mistakes.
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Lucas Bergvall found that out in Tottenham’s first game of the season against Leicester City, but Marchegiani believes that the Spurs number one needs to become calmer on the pitch.
The 58-year-old said about Vicario’s tendency to be animated: “I think that his perfectionism, the desire to constantly improve, is a bonus for a goalkeeper, but where he needs to improve is the way he expresses himself.
“I understand this attitude can help pump him up, but at times he seems too agitated, too worried and too angry. In my view, a goalkeeper at a big club should be a calming presence.”
Shot-stopping praised
Marchegiani identified Vicario’s shot-stopping as his biggest strength, suggesting that the Tottenham man makes saves that other goalkeepers cannot.
The Lazio legend added: “He is a very elastic goalkeeper, so in that sense, he is a modern Giovanni Galli. Vicario has this ability to pull an extraordinary save out of nowhere that everyone assumes is a goal, but he still manages to keep it out!”