Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has come under scrutiny, with former Newcastle United shot-stopper Shay Given expressing concerns over the Italian’s temperament.
The criticism follows Spurs’ recent 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the North London derby, where Given highlighted a potential flaw in Vicario’s game.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Given suggested that Vicario’s emotional approach in high-pressure situations could be affecting his overall performance.
The former Irish international pointed out that the 27-year-old tends to get “hot-headed” during crucial moments, which could hinder his ability to remain composed in critical stages of the match.
He said:
“I am trying to stick up for Vicario as best I can as an ex-goalkeeper, but what I am trying to say is that there’s a weakness there.
“I think he is a bit hot-headed at times. He gets involved in stuff I don’t think he should get involved in.”
Vicario joined Tottenham last year on a five-year deal and quickly cemented himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper.
He made his Premier League debut in Spurs’ season opener against Brentford and followed it up with a standout performance in a 2-0 victory over Manchester United, securing a clean sheet.
Despite his strong shot-stopping abilities and recognition in the form of nominations for Save of the Month and Goalkeeper of the Year at the London Football Awards, Vicario has faced criticism for his handling of set-pieces.
While Vicario’s performances have generally been praised, the Italian international will need to work on maintaining his composure and improving his command over set-pieces as Tottenham push forward this season.
