‘Best I’ve played with’ – Vicario has big compliment for two Spurs teammates
Guglielmo Vicario has admitted that he has thoroughly enjoyed operating behind Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven this season, describing them as the best central defenders he has played with in his career.
Vicario has had to deal with the challenge of adapting to Tottenham’s system, with Ange Postecoglou demanding that his side play a high line and that they build out from the back even under pressure.
The goalkeeper has thus had to develop a good understanding with Spurs defenders often playing the ball to their feet even when they have players around them.
When asked how he has found playing with the Tottenham backline, Vicario told Football.London: “Every one of those lads is outstanding. They have different characteristics as players but every one of them has been outstanding during the season. Cuti and Micky have played a bit more but then Radu came in in January. He’s a very good lad, he’s tough and he wants to improve. He’s got a good mentality.
“Cuti, well I don’t need to use too many words on Cuti! He won the World Cup in 2022 so I’m not the right person to speak about him. He’s a massive player and Micky of course has been outstanding.
“In the way we play, with the high line, his speed has been very, very important for us. I’m very proud. I can say they are the best defenders I’ve played with so I’m very proud of that. Praise to them for a big season but next season we want to do better.”
Vicario impressed by Radu Dragusin at Tottenham too
Vicario’s relationship with Tottenham defenders got better through the season and the goalkeeper confessed that the team can set their aims really high next season now that they better understand each other’s game and what Postecoglou expects of them.
He continued: “I think with one more year of working together I think some situations we can recognise and reach our best level. We just need to follow him (Ange) 100% and try to do what he asks of us and then we will see.
“Of course it’s tough, the league is tough and I think we just have to focus on winning each game and then the next one and the next one and then we’ll see. It’s a long season.”
The Italian is someone who wears his heart on his sleeve, often celebrating big defensive moments and not afraid to berate his teammates when they make mistakes.
One such example was how he the goalkeeper celebrated wildly with Radu Dragusin after the Romanian blocked a goal-bound shot against Manchester City.
When asked about that moment, Vicario responded: “I think it’s important to give credit to them when they do a block or a big header, a big tackle. Of course, I like to celebrate when I make an important save so I think these are moments that you have to value because they are very important inside the 90 minutes.
“So I’m very happy when the lads do something like that. For me, when you block a shot, it means we worked very well. So it’s a very good time to value that. I try to do my best and I’m very passionate in some situations and I think it’s important to bring this energy when someone makes the difference.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Pundits talk all the time about the importance of having leaders and players with a winning mentality in the changing room. There is no doubt that Tottenham have found one such player in Vicario.
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