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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."

In a harrowing encounter at Old Trafford, Manchester United suffered a dismal 3-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur. The match was marred by chaos, indiscipline, and a series of defensive blunders that left fans in disbelief.

Desperate for a victory after two consecutive disappointing draws, United's hopes were quickly dashed just two minutes into the match. Following some early pressure, Spurs' Micky van de Ven embarked on an impressive solo run from deep in his own half, weaving past four United defenders to deliver a pinpoint cross to Brennan Johnson, who coolly finished from close range. The home crowd erupted in frustration as their side found themselves trailing 1-0.

Just moments later, United's luck did not improve as they squandered possession in their defensive third. Luckily for them, Dominic Solanke failed to capitalize on the opportunity, as he was swiftly closed down by Lisandro Martinez. The alarming start was a precursor to United's ongoing defensive woes.

As the match progressed, it became increasingly apparent that United's strategy of playing out from the back was doing them more harm than good. In the 10th minute, Marcus Rashford made a promising run that led to a corner, only for the effort to be nullified by an offside flag.

On the other end, James Maddison showcased his flair with a clever one-two with Dejan Kulusevski, forcing a critical save from United's Andre Onana. Minutes later, United found themselves on a counter, but their attacks were often thwarted, including a missed opportunity when Joshua Zirkzee's shot was easily saved by Guglielmo Vicario.

Johnson continued to threaten, nearly extending Spurs' lead with a shot that rattled the far post, while Zirkzee missed a golden chance moments later, displaying a worrying lack of composure in front of goal.

United's defending grew increasingly ragged; Christian Romero nearly scored a stunning goal from a corner, hitting the woodwork with a mesmerizing scissor kick. As the clock ticked down towards halftime, things took a turn for the worse when Bruno Fernandes saw red for a controversial incident involving Maddison. The referee's decision, though possibly harsh, stood firm, leaving United with ten men.

The first half closed in loud silence, a stark reflection of the despondency felt by the United fans as they pondered whether there was any chance of a comeback.

With Casemiro introduced at the break, United hoped to regroup, but their hopes were dashed just two minutes into the second half. Johnson's pace exploited United's high defensive line, and after a swift break, he set up Kulusevski for an easy finish. Suddenly, the scoreline read 2-0 to Spurs.

As United scrambled to find a foothold, they were met with further frustration. Martinez received a yellow card for a reckless challenge, while mounting disciplinary issues left the backline at risk of further sanctions.

Despite a spirited effort to claw back into the match, including a corner that resulted in a VAR check for handball, United's attempts were thwarted at every turn. A growing list of bookings for the home side only added to the sense of impending doom.

In the 74th minute, Solanke finally found the back of the net, capitalizing on poor defending from a corner, effectively sealing the game for Spurs with a 3-0 scoreline. Late substitutions had little impact, with the match slowly drawing to a close.

As the final whistle blew, it was clear that United faced deepening turmoil. Fans were left to question how long Erik ten Hag could remain at the helm after such a disheartening performance in front of their home supporters.

Starting XI: Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Fernandes, Rashford, Zirkzee, Garnacho, Dalot, Ugarte, Mainoo