Tottenham Hotspur deserved to come back to N17 with just a point after the disappointing performance against AS Monaco
Tottenham were fortunate to come away with a point against AS Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday night. The Lilywhites looked far from their best, appearing as though they had set up to play for a draw away from home. Thomas Frank’s men struggled throughout the match, with several players clearly falling short of expectations.
Thanks to Guglielmo Vicario’s heroics, Spurs managed to hold on for a goalless draw in a game they arguably deserved to lose. The Italian goalkeeper was outstanding between the sticks in Monte-Carlo, reminding everyone why he remains Tottenham’s first-choice shot-stopper at N17. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this was Vicario’s best performance since joining the North London club in 2023.
Thomas Frank’s side remain a work in progress, and Wednesday’s display showed that they still have some distance to cover before they can truly compete with Europe’s elite. The Lilywhites showed glimpses of attacking quality but were equally plagued by defensive lapses. This inconsistency ultimately prevented them from taking control of the contest at the Stade Louis II.
Guglielmo Vicario believes Tottenham have a ‘lot to learn’
Despite their disappointing performance, Tottenham remain unbeaten in the Champions League this season. However, at times it seemed as though the Lilywhites were relying heavily on their home fixtures against Copenhagen and Slavia Prague to secure progression from the group stage, treating those matches as a safety net. That perhaps explains why the North Londoners were more focused on avoiding defeat than pushing for victory against Monaco.
Now, Guglielmo Vicario has given his honest verdict on the game following his heroics in Monte-Carlo. Speaking to TNT Sports (via X), Vicario said,
“It was not the best performance from us. There is a lot to learn from this game because the level in the Champions League is very high. If you miss some basics it is tough to compete. Everyone who plays at the back is a Champions League player. It is not about changes tonight, it is about the effort, the mentality and the awareness of danger we need to have in some situations.”
The Italian added,
“I think tonight we lacked a little bit of that. It is a point we have to take. It is a tough point because we had to battle and suffer a lot so credit to Monaco. Today they were better than us.”
As Vicario rightly pointed out, Spurs fell well short of the level required to claim a win against AS Monaco. The Lilywhites lacked the mentality, effort, and discipline needed to prevail, getting several of the basics wrong throughout the game. The Tottenham keeper also gave credit to the Ligue 1 side for their intensity and organisation, admitting that Sébastien Pocognoli’s men were superior in nearly every aspect.
Thomas Frank needs to make some changes to his system as Spurs cannot continue playing like this. The pragmatic approach is not helping the players, and it is only a matter of time before the results don’t go their way. Tottenham need to be playing on the front foot, and that is exactly what the Danish tactician should look to do when they take on Everton in the Premier League next.
