Guglielmo Vicario apologises to Tottenham fans in emotional message after what he did
Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario responded after his actions at full-time sparked debate following their defeat to AZ Alkmaar.
Tottenham now face an uphill battle in the Europa League Round of 16 after a narrow 1-0 loss in the first leg, leaving them needing a comeback in the return fixture.
Lucas Bergvall’s unfortunate own goal proved to be the difference, while Tottenham’s injury concerns deepened as Dominic Solanke picked up a knock shortly after coming on.
Vicario put in a solid performance between the posts, but it was his behaviour at full-time that drew criticism. The goalkeeper later addressed the controversy by issuing a full statement, clarifying his actions.
| Tottenham’s last three fixtures | Win/Loss/Draw |
| AZ Alkmaar 1-0 Tottenham | Loss |
| Tottenham 0-1 Man City | Loss |
| Ipswich 1-4 Tottenham | Win |
Guglielmo Vicario issues apology and vow to Tottenham fans after controversy
Following the defeat, Vicario was seen gesturing towards the away supporters, seemingly trying to rally those who had made the trip to the Netherlands after the final-whistle.
The Italian goalkeeper was seen raising his arms in front of the fans, appearing to call for more support [Daily Mail]. However, the gesture was not well received, prompting Vicario to address the situation with a statement on Instagram.
He wrote: “As a team, we take full responsibility for our terrible performance on the pitch last night.We will work even harder to understand, as a mature group, what went wrong.
“Still, we have a great opportunity, starting from Sunday, to redeem ourselves and prepare in the best way possible for the second battle next Thursday.
“Regarding what happened at the final whistle in front of the away section, I want to clarify my intention to keep everyone as united as possible, even in the disappointment we have caused our people.
If I have offended anyone, I apologise to those who felt affected.
“Post-match emotions can be misunderstood, but I assure you that my commitment to this team and you, our fans, grows stronger day after day. COYS, together.”
Ange Postecoglou continues to back Vicario despite mounting pressure
Some Tottenham fans had called for Vicario to be dropped in favour of new signing Antonin Kinsky, who impressed in his limited opportunities.
However, since returning from injury, Vicario has remained the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, making 19 appearances this season.
Despite the manager’s continued faith in him, Spurs’ struggles have led to growing calls for Postecoglou to be sacked, particularly after the disappointing loss to AZ Alkmaar.
The Tottenham hierarchy have so far stood by their coach, citing the club’s ongoing injury crisis as a major factor in their inconsistent form.
With Spurs already out of the FA Cup and having fallen short in the Carabao Cup semi-finals against Liverpool, the Europa League is their last remaining chance to end a 17-year wait for silverware.
Now, the one-goal deficit puts further pressure on the squad ahead of the decisive second leg against AZ Alkmaar on 13 March.