Darren Ambrose questions Tottenham goalie Guglielmo Vicario after Leeds display
Tottenham Hotpur’s 2-1 victory at Leeds United was a hard-fought result that kept them close to the top of the Premier League table, but it also brought fresh scrutiny on goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. Former Premier League midfielder Darren Ambrose was critical of the Italian’s showing, describing his performance as unconvincing despite the three points.
Speaking on talkSPORT, here is what the former Newcastle man had to say:
“Obviously, I didn’t play in defence, but I know, I’ve been in changing rooms, I know what gets spoken about,”
“He’s been found out in terms of his crossing, his dictating abilities, in terms of the set plays. I was a set play taker when I played, and I know my management team would have said, ‘Put it right on him.‘”
Ambrose steadily believes that Spurs were fortunate that deflections off Pascal Struijk sealed both goals, while Vicario failed to command his area as strongly as expected. This sort of criticism is not new for Vicario, to be really honest. The shot-stopper, for all his brilliance in one-v-one situations, and general play, is not quite effective in set-play situations.
Harsh words?
Vicario was a standout figure in his first season after replacing Hugo Lloris, earning plaudits for his shot-stopping and calm distribution. But like many keepers adjusting to the unique physical demands of the Premier League, his handling of set plays has remained tested time and again. Against Leeds, those weaknesses were evident, giving critics an easy talking point.
That said, Tottenham fans will also know that Vicario has already proven himself to be a high-level goalkeeper. His saves have rescued points on more than one occasion, and his consistency across last season was a key reason Spurs secured Champions League football. Goalkeepers, perhaps more than any other position, stand judged harshly on isolated moments, and Ambrose’s comments reflect how quickly the conversation can shift even after a win.
Thomas Frank is unlikely to lose faith in his number one. He has previously praised Vicario’s mentality and work ethic in training, and those traits will be vital as Spurs prepare for a tough home clash against Aston Villa after the international break.
For now, it’s a case of learning, improving, and showing that one off day doesn’t define a player who remains one of Tottenham’s most reliable performers. Not withstanding the fact that he was not even as bad as Ambrose makes him out to be against Leeds.
