Tottenham faced a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Selhurst Park, marking a second consecutive away loss in the Premier League and Guglielmo Vicario did not hold back in his post-match interview.
Crystal Palace, yet to win a league game this season, managed to secure their first victory, with Spurs unable to crack the Eagles’ resilient defence despite a second-half push.
Following the match, Tottenham goalkeeper Vicario, who made five saves to keep his side in the game, shared his frustration over the outcome.
Vicario emphasised that while Spurs showed technical quality, they lacked the intensity and grit that Palace brought to the pitch.
He noted that this “fight” factor is crucial if the Lilywhites want to push forward and improve, stressing that football often demands not just skill, but the resilience to match or exceed the opponent’s determination.
The decisive moment of the match came in the first half when Tottenham were caught off guard while attempting to build from the back. Eberechi Eze cleverly redirected a cross from Munoz to Jean-Philippe Mateta, who capitalised on the opportunity and slotted the ball past Vicario.
Despite Vicario’s best efforts, which included a strong save against Wharton’s shot headed for the top corner and a crucial stop on Sarr in the 2nd half, he couldn’t prevent the early lapse from ultimately deciding the match.
Offensively, Spurs struggled to build momentum, finishing with a low xG of 0.74, as attempts from Kulusevski and Maddison came up short. (FotMob)
Guglielmo Vicario: We lacked the desire to fight
Reflecting on the match, Vicario pointed out that Palace’s energy and pressing pressure was a key difference-maker, shifting the game’s advantage to the home side.
Speaking to Sky Sports post-game via BBC Sport, the Italian keeper stated:
“They fight and I think we lacked that today. We are disappointed because we have to fight. We play good football, but maybe sometimes we lack the desire to fight. They show a real desire to fight for something.
“I just want to focus on us and what we didn’t do as a team. I think we lacked a bit of energy and to be better than them. We have to take this personally, and it has to hurt us a lot. Football gives us an opportunity again, and we have to be ready for the cup.”
Tottenham face Manchester City next
Vicaro, who has recently been linked with a move away, was one of the few players on the pitch who could come out of the game with their head held high. Had it not been for his saves, the final score could have been much worse.
The players will need to put the defeat behind them and focus on the big League Cup tie coming up against an in-form Manchester City and beating the reigning champions would be the perfect way to bounce back from the disappointing defeat.
