“Terrible performance”- Tottenham star slams team-mate who ‘lacked desire to fight’ in Crystal Palace defeat
Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario didn’t hold back after his team’s disappointing 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace, expressing frustration with his squad’s lack of “attitude and fight.” Vicario’s blunt assessment came after Jean-Philippe Mateta’s decisive goal lifted Palace out of the relegation zone, leaving Tottenham to ponder what went wrong in a match that showcased their vulnerabilities.
Vicario emphasized that Palace brought a level of grit and tenacity that Tottenham failed to match, stating, “They fought hard, and I think we were lacking that drive today. It’s disappointing because that fighting spirit is crucial. We play quality football, but sometimes the desire to battle for every inch isn’t there. Palace showed they wanted the win, and we couldn’t match that intensity. We were missing energy, and we needed to rise above them in that regard.”
With captain Son Heung-min sidelined due to injury, Vicario acknowledged the absence of leadership but insisted the team is deep enough to compete without him. “Son is our captain, but we have a strong squad capable of handling his absence. We should be winning games even when key players are out. Today, what we lacked wasn’t football skill but rather the right mindset and determination,” he added.
Head coach Ange Postecoglou shared Vicario’s sentiments, admitting that his side lost control by engaging Palace on their terms rather than sticking to their own style. “We fell into the trap of trying to play the type of game that suited Palace,” Postecoglou remarked. “It turned into a physical battle, and they managed it better than we did. For Palace, this was a crucial game, and they were always going to push hard for a win. It was up to us to stay calm and avoid getting sucked into the kind of chaotic, stop-start match that they thrive on.”
Postecoglou noted that his team’s lapses in discipline and composure only added to their struggles, as Tottenham conceded unnecessary fouls and lost their rhythm. “When we had control, we could’ve handled things much better. Instead, we ended up making silly mistakes, committing needless fouls, and letting frustration get the best of us,” he explained. “In games like this, where you can’t gain any momentum, it’s essential to stay level-headed and not let the opposition dictate the tempo.”
Reflecting on the match, Postecoglou admitted his side needs to learn to deal with high-stakes games differently. “We misdirected our frustration, and instead of adapting to the situation, we played right into their hands,” he concluded.