Ange Postecoglou praises ’keeper Vicario Guglielmo as Tottenham hang on for EPL win

LONDON – Guglielmo Vicario is far from the most high-profile goalkeeper in the English Premier League, but he is enjoying an excellent first season at Tottenham Hotspur and turned on the style on Dec 23 to ensure his team emerged with a 2-1 win over Everton.

The Italian, 27, would have been pleased to warm his hands with three routine stops from tame Everton finishes in the first half, as the visitors started their fightback after Richarlison and Son Heung-min’s early goals had put Spurs 2-0 up.

In the second half though he really had to be at his best, particularly when spectacularly foiling Arnaut Danjuma moments after Andre Gomes had pulled it back to 2-1 in the 82nd minute.

He also stood up strongly to the physical battering that the muscular Everton side put every goalkeeper through, and was a rare island of security on the ball as his defence routinely got themselves into difficulties playing out from the back.

“He has been strong pretty much from the first game,” Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou said of Vicario, who joined the London side from Empoli in June.

“Some games we haven’t needed a lot and today we did. The saves he made but also the way he dealt with corners was so strong – they put so much pressure on the goalkeeper. He’s a great shot-stopper and is dealing with a different back four in lots of games. He’s got a maturity which helps the team in those moments.”

The manager also said that he was not surprised by Richarlison's form as his goal made it four in three matches, having scored two in his previous 39.

“He’s playing, mate,” he said when asked to explain the turnaround. “He obviously missed a bit of football with his (groin) operation (in November) but he’s getting stronger every game.

“He wasn’t struggling before, he just wasn’t 100 per cent and he was soldiering on. He just feels a bit freer now both mentally and physically.

“His general play has been really good but I know there’s more to come.”

Postecoglou said there was no major issue that forced the former Everton striker off during the second half, and that the Brazilian just had a sore back.

He was also impressed by the mutual respect shown between Richarlison and the 3,000 Everton fans. He applauded them as he left the pitch, and they, forever thankful for his goals that kept them up in 2022, did the same.

He said: “I don’t think anyone would question his service for Everton and I think the fans appreciate that.”

It was Spurs’ third win in a row following a five-game winless run, lifting them above champions Manchester City into fourth place. City did not play due to their Club World Cup exertions in Saudi Arabia.

Everton will wonder how they got nothing from the game. They dominated the second half and continue to hover just above the relegation zone, thanks to their 10-point deduction for breaching the Premier League’s financial rules.

They had come into the match on a run of four successive league wins, without a goal conceded, but all too aware of their dire form against Spurs in recent years, having won only one of their last 21 meetings, drawing 10.

Said Everton manager Sean Dyche: “It looks like a reaction, but I thought we started really well.

“We gave away two soft goals, but we created chances and looked a threat on the counter. Our tactical idea was good.

“You have to believe you’re 2-0 down but I was scratching my head.

“That was arguably my most proud performance and I’m coming on 11 months now. We continued to ask questions. Bizarrely, we come away with nothing, but it was an outstanding performance.” REUTERS