“A Decision has to be taken, he’s the only issue”- Lampard names Tottenham star he believes is Spurs’ weak link
Tottenham Hotspur pulled off an impressive comeback victory with a 4-1 win over Aston Villa in their recent Premier League clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday. Despite the dominant result, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario faced criticism for his handling of Villa’s opening goal. Former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard was particularly vocal, identifying Vicario as a potential vulnerability in Tottenham’s otherwise solid lineup.
In his analysis of the match, Lampard highlighted Vicario’s approach to dealing with set pieces and his handling under high-pressure situations. He noted that while Vicario is an agile and effective shot-stopper, his responses during congested moments in the box require refinement, especially when he is surrounded by opponents.
A critical moment came early in the first half when Morgan Rogers opened the scoring for Villa. Lampard observed that Vicario seemed somewhat disoriented by the crowded goalmouth and the presence of Villa attackers around him. Although he initially blocked the shot, the ball rebounded directly to Rogers, who capitalized on the opportunity to score with a simple tap-in.
Lampard’s critique centered on Vicario’s balance and composure in these challenging, high-traffic situations. According to Lampard, the Italian goalkeeper’s positioning faltered as he attempted to stay grounded amid the jostling players around him. Speaking on Sky Sports, Lampard shared his thoughts on Vicario’s performance (quotes via Tribuna):
“I just felt the goalkeeper allowed himself to be so unbalanced through the movement of it. He will understand that he will be getting it in every game now. People are going to get in your way, so Tottenham, it’s certainly a weakness that they haven’t quite put right.”
He further explained, “Vicario, not the most dominant of goalkeepers. Doesn’t come off his line. It’s a flat delivery to the near post, Spurs don’t deal with it. Vicario getting involved with Rogers on the line, distracted by him. Does make a decent save but Rogers has the simplest of tasks, tapping in from two yards.”
This isn’t the first instance where Vicario’s decision-making on aerial balls has come under scrutiny. Known for his sharp reflexes and consistency on the line, Vicario can sometimes display hesitancy when deciding whether to come off his line in busy penalty-box moments. Last season, he faced similar challenges against Everton, where Jack Harrison managed to distract him during a corner, leading to a conceded goal.
Although he’s proven himself a reliable successor to Hugo Lloris, Lampard’s assessment points to a key area for improvement that could help Tottenham avoid conceding avoidable goals in tightly contested matches. Vicario’s quick reactions and leadership qualities have endeared him to his teammates and fans, with manager Ange Postecoglou even naming him as part of Tottenham’s leadership group earlier in the season. His ability to read the game and his strong presence in goal have been instrumental in several of Tottenham’s positive results this season.
Nonetheless, refining his approach to crowded situations, especially during set-pieces, could be crucial. As Lampard suggested, opponents will likely continue to exploit this perceived weakness until Vicario becomes more adept at handling these challenging scenarios. With further development in this area, he could bolster Tottenham’s defense and help the club achieve greater consistency as they aim to remain competitive in the league.