Guglielmo Vicario reflected on his first few months at Tottenham, the early successes in the Premier League and the growth of fellow Italian Destiny Udogie.
The 27-year-old shot stopper joined Spurs in the summer from Empoli in a deal worth around €20m, being chosen as the long-term replacement for veteran Hugo Lloris. He put pen to paper on a five-year contract.
Vicario has shined for Tottenham in his first nine Premier League appearances, keeping four clean sheets and playing a key role in their unexpected run to the top of the league table. The underlying numbers show the Italian to be one of the best goalkeepers in the division.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Vicario first discussed his life in the Premier League with Tottenham.
“This was what I wanted, and I didn’t want to listen to anything else. As soon as I knew there was an opportunity to come here, I would’ve signed in blood, I would’ve come on foot from Italy. I’m very happy to play in the most amazing league in the world.
“I tell myself this every day, as soon as the alarm goes off in the morning: ‘Go to the pitch because there’s a game to play in the most amazing league in the world’.
“I’m happy with how it’s going, we are as a team. Against Fulham we could have done a little better despite the victory, especially in managing certain situations.
“But we enjoyed the win and are concentrated on the next game. I think the secret is always staying at work, doing it with 100% of our possibilities.”
He reflected on his arrival at Spurs and the mindset in the dressing room.
“I arrived with great desire and without setting limits. I entered into a different mentality, both for myself and for the team, it’s the one that coach Postecoglou brought this year, one that sees us all participating and involved with a great spirit.
“It’s what we have to put in place day after day. I think that for the moment the fruits of our work are showing, but we’ll evaluate things later. We need to keep pushing, because now the iron is hot and needs to be struck.”
The 27-year-old wasn’t interested in the underlying numbers for now.
“I think that at this moment the most important thing is to continue working, as we have done since we met to start this season. The goal is to continue to get our hands dirty hard, without setting limits.”
He spoke about the work of compatriot Udogie, who arrived from Udinese in the summer.
“I think this is his league. He had already demonstrated it in Italy, but here his skills of athleticism and reading certain situations, when he can split the lines, make him even more at ease.
“He is a box-to-box player, he has great ability to run and is a great guy who wants to do things and put in the effort.
“I try to pamper him a bit, being older than him, we have a great relationship and I’m happy that he’s doing great.”
Vicario commented on the fact that Tottenham are top of the Premier League table.
“They’re just numbers, it’s still a long way off. We’re thinking about preparing well for the match against Crystal Palace, after the derby against Fulham, we need the right attitude and mentality to prepare for the match.
“Hard work during the week is then carried onto the pitch, as the coach asks of us. Above all, we follow his creed, that of playing our football and doing so in an intense and offensive manner throughout the match. We must continue to push forward this direction.”
He spoke about coach Ange Postecoglou.
“He is a great communicator. A very credible person in deeds and words, in the way he prepares matches on the pitch and also on a mental level. I think he is a great leader, our first leader.
“He deserves the credit for having created this atmosphere, which however must be nourished every day with hard work. Just as he asks of us.”
Finally, Vicario discussed his early impressions of the Premier League.
“A very, very high pace. Maybe it’s less tactical football, but there are constant reversals up front. You press high, sometimes you have to make 50 metre runs which in Italy you compensate for with different tactical readings.
“Here, however, everyone the players have a great facility for running. Then you go on to create a more offensive, more spectacular and more beautiful football to look at.
“I think it’s a slightly more open vision of what football is, without however denying everything that good and beautiful that we show in Italy. And this great athleticism is enhanced by this league.”