Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is expected to be out for “months” due to the broken ankle he sustained at Manchester City on Saturday.
The Italian suffered the injury in the first half of the game at the Etihad Stadium following a clash with Savinho but played the full 90 minutes as Spurs won 4-0.
He has already undergone surgery but Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou admitted today he would not be back for some time.
Next up in N17 👊 pic.twitter.com/eMzYU2trVx
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 27, 2024
Speaking ahead of tomorrow night’s game with Roma, Postecoglou said: “It’s not going to be weeks, it’s going to be months. He’s had surgery.
“I don’t like giving timelines so early in the process on something like that because it puts undue pressure on the player and also, maybe some expectations. I think once we get the past the rehab stage, we will have a clearer idea.”
Vicario is as “tough as nails”
Postecoglou was full of admiration for the way Vicario toughed it out at the weekend, making several saves to preserve Spurs’ clean sheet.
The Australian said: “I think externally you now realise what we knew internally about him. It’s a reason I’ve gone and made him part of the leadership group this year, you just see the way he goes about his business on a daily basis.
“He’s got a really strong mentality. I give the guys days off, I guarantee that he would be here doing something, he’s just that kind of person.
“He’s as tough as nails, as tough as they come.
“An unbelievable performance [at City]. Irrespective of the injury, it was a really strong performance for him but taking that into context, it’s certainly one for the record books for this club in outstanding performances I think.”
Forster to step up
Fraser Forster will start tomorrow and over the busy Christmas schedule, injury permitting.
“That’s why he’s here,” Postecoglou added. “Fraser played [in the] Carabao Cup, he’s played a couple of European games and that’s the reason we played him, it’s the reason we have him in the squad. He’s ready to go.”
Spurs showed what they are capable of at City although they are still inconsistent, that win coming after a home defeat to struggling Ipswich.
Asked what fans should expect against Roma, Postecoglou said: “You’ll see the same Spurs you see every game. It’s about going out there and trying to play our football and try and be the best we can be.
“Sometimes, that doesn’t work out and hasn’t worked out for us in a couple of games this year. We know that and it’s something we need to kind of improve.
“At the same time, it’s been more good than bad. If you are looking for likely outcomes, I’d say good but we have had the flat spots that we are working through. I don’t discount the football we have played either. We’ve played some outstanding football. For me, it is about progress.
“I keep saying that we’re a better side than we were last year and we want to keep improving and if we keep improving, the areas where there are gaps, we will slowly overcome.”
Ranieri back in England
In the opposing dugout tomorrow will be veteran Claudio Ranieri, who recently came out of retirement to take charge of Roma, his hometown club, for a third time on a deal until the end of the season.
Postecoglou said of the 73-year-old: “It’s unbelievable. It just goes to show the passion he has for the game because I’m sure there’s more enjoyable, simpler ways to enjoy his life now, but he still has that in him.
“I haven’t come across him before, but I’m looking forward to saying hello because it’s always nice to actually meet some of these people who have made such a massive impact in football, particularly in my field, management.
“He’s always come across as a gentlemen. I’m looking forward to meeting him and it just goes to show that kind of bug for being a manager on the touchline doesn’t leave you.”
