Guglielmo Vicario is back on familiar turf as Tottenham Hotspur take on Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup. The team had to break the trophy curse to get to this stage, and now that they are at a stadium with a deep meaning for the goalkeeper, he stressed the group "want to do it again."
-
‘We can do and achieve great things’
It will be an emotional evening for the Italian. He is not only back in his home country, but will also be playing at the Bluenergy Stadium.
Born in Udine, he came through the ranks at Udinese but never played at the historic ground for the first team. The match marks a big moment, but he has a job to do.
“Personally, it will be an emotional day of course but as soon as we go close to kickoff emotions have to stay apart. We need to be really ready look really focused on what we have to deliver on the pitch.”
The 28-year-old is a compatriot of Gianluigi Donnarumma, who will not be part of the PSG squad. Lucas Chevalier came in from Lille last week as the new number one, while the Italian has stalled on renewing his deal with the club. Vicario wishes his fellow shot stopper would solve his situation soon.
“He is not in the squad. He is my captain in the national team. I have good feelings and a relationship with him. It’s up to him and his club to find the best way possible for his future. I wish him the best.”
Spurs have said their goodbyes to Son Heung-min, who signed for LAFC last Wednesday, and today, Cristian Romero was announced as the new captain of the club. Vicario is one of the oldest members of the squad, and whether or not he is in the new leadership group, he hopes to empower his teammates.
“I'm one of the oldest players in the dressing room. Now is the moment to step up, take responsibility during this season. I see a group of lads ready to fight and to commit altogether.
"I just want them to have a really good mindset together to drive this team to be the best version possible we can achieve. We need to start from this game to deliver. I think altogether we can do and achieve great things.”
-
‘Something has changed’
Vicario helped to hold onto a clean sheet as Tottenham ended a 17 year trophy drought with a 1-0 victory in the Europa League final against Manchester United in May. No one expects silverware to start flooding in, but Spurs should see this achievement as a moment to make a break with the past.
“We set the tone. Of course, we want ourself to repeat, but to do it again because we tasted the feeling and this feeling is amazing. We want to do it again and we have an opportunity again in a European final. We are there because we earn the right to be here to play against Paris Saint-Germain.”
However, it will not be easy to earn a second title in the last three months. The Parisians have not only become the new champions of Europe, but they have also wrapped up a quadruple and were on the verge of winning the Club World Cup, were it not for a 3-0 defeat against Chelsea in the final.
“We want to do it but football and sports it's all about winning and losing so sometimes it's hard.”
Thomas Frank will be the man who has to guide the group to glory. He arrived as the replacement for Ange Postecoglou in June from Brentford with a reputation as a more pragmatic manager.
“It is up to us to believe. We have to do it all together we have to follow very strictly which are the instruction from the manager. We really believe in Thomas and in how in how we can improve all together as a team as a collective. I think it can set a tone again if you want to be successful.”
It has only been two months since the change of leadership, but there are already differences in the details of their match plans. The goalkeeper gave an indication that the new boss believes it is not always the right idea to play short, and his role will adapt depending on what the opponent demands.
“Something has changed. I need to be ready to read which situation is in front of me. Sometimes it is about building from the back, sometimes going long. It’s a different approach to what I was used to have over the last two season. The important thing is it's useful for the team if I can impact this way.”
