Guglielmo Vicario has insisted that Tottenham Hotspur were never going to abandon their philosophy of playing out from the back even when they were being put under pressure by Arsenal.
Going into the North London Derby, several pundits predicted that the Gunners would make Spurs pay if they tried to play their football at the Emirates rather than defending deep, with the likes of Paul Merson backing his former side to emerge comfortable winners (Sky Sports).
That is exactly what Ange Postecoglou’s men did as they calmly played out from the back time and again and were not shy of committing bodies forward when they broke through the press.
There were some dangerous moments in the first 30 minutes of the game as Tottenham gave their ball away in their own third multiple times but that did not stop the away side from continuing to build patiently from the back.
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 19: Guglielmo Vicario of Tottenham Hotspur celebrate during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 19, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Vicario is enjoying playing out from the back
Vicario, who was calmness personified between the sticks on Sunday, has insisted that Spurs were full value for the draw.
The goalkeeper told TuttoMercatoWeb: “This is our way of playing football from the back. We have to take risks; we play from the back to move the third man. We follow our coach’s instructions.
“After the match against Arsenal I was quite satisfied, the most important thing was to show everyone who we are. I think we deserved something more because we have played excellent football.”
Spurs Web Opinion
While Vicario may not be supremely skilled with the ball at his feet when compared to the likes of Ederson, Allison or even Raya, the Italian is extremely calm and makes good decisions under pressure, which is key to the way Ange wants us to play.
Have something to tell us about this article?
