Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has opened up about his unsuccessful attempt to rally the club’s travelling supporters following their disheartening 1-0 loss to AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League.With Spurs’ season increasingly hinging on their performance in the European competition, their first-leg defeat in the Round of 16 was particularly disheartening. While the scoreline suggests a narrow loss, the reality was far grimmer, as the North London club struggled to impose themselves and lacked any real attacking threat. The only goal of the match came in unfortunate fashion, as Lucas Bergvall inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, giving the hosts a crucial advantage heading into the second leg.A Toothless Display from SpursTottenham’s struggles in attack were evident throughout the match, managing just a single shot on target. Even that effort—a second-half attempt from Wilson Odobert—was debatable, as it appeared to be a mishit cross rather than a genuine goalscoring opportunity. The lack of attacking impetus, combined with a generally lethargic performance, left fans frustrated and questioning the team’s approach.Vicario, however, was one of the few Spurs players who could hold his head high after the match. The Italian shot-stopper made several important saves to keep the deficit at just one goal, preventing an even more embarrassing scoreline. After the final whistle, Vicario led a group of players toward the 950 travelling supporters, attempting to acknowledge their presence and encourage them to remain behind the team. He raised his arms passionately, urging them to continue their support despite the abysmal performance.However, the fans were in no mood for gestures. Their reaction was immediate and scathing, with many shouting angry words at the players in response to what they had just witnessed. Vicario, visibly taken aback by the backlash, looked disheartened before eventually walking away towards the tunnel.Vicario Acknowledges the Fans’ FrustrationThis is not the first time Tottenham players have had to face the wrath of their supporters following a poor display. Given the team’s erratic form this season, such moments have become all too common. After the match, Vicario admitted that he understood the fans’ frustrations and acknowledged that their disappointment was justified.“I completely understand why they’re frustrated. We didn’t play our football, and we let them down,” Vicario said. “It’s natural for them to be disappointed, but we still have everything to fight for in the second leg. My gesture was simply about trying to keep us all together because we still have a chance to turn this around.”Despite the criticism, Vicario remains hopeful that the fans will back the team when they host AZ Alkmaar in the second leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.“They have every right to be critical,” he continued. “We didn’t perform, and they expected better. But this tie isn’t over. We have to come together now because we still have a great opportunity to progress.”With Tottenham’s European hopes hanging in the balance, Vicario stressed the importance of home support in the return leg.“We need our fans at every game, both home and away,” he said. “This is a crucial moment in our season, and with their support, we can have an extra player on the pitch. I completely understand their disappointment after tonight, but we have to analyze, move on, and be ready for the next match.”Tottenham’s Inconsistency Remains a Major ConcernOne of the biggest issues plaguing Spurs this season has been their inconsistency. The team has managed some impressive wins but has also suffered far too many defeats, with their tally now standing at 18 across all competitions. This unpredictability has left fans and players alike baffled, and Vicario was no exception.“I don’t know why this keeps happening,” he admitted. “There could be many reasons, but we know we have to be better. Tonight was incredibly disappointing, and we take full responsibility. But now, we have to show the real Spurs in the next game.”While acknowledging that the performance in Alkmaar was far below the expected standard, Vicario emphasized that there is still time to turn things around.“The level we played at tonight wasn’t good enough—everyone knows that,” he said. “The result isn’t ideal, but it’s not catastrophic either. We still have a second leg at home, so it’s on us to fix this. We need to analyze what went wrong but also quickly shift our focus because we have another big game coming up on Sunday before the return leg next Thursday.”Despite the setbacks, Vicario remains optimistic about Tottenham’s chances in the Europa League and insists that the team is still capable of going far in the competition.“Of course, we can still do it,” he said. “We have to take it one game at a time. Tonight was a huge disappointment, and I understand the fans’ frustration. But everything is still in our hands. We have the chance to turn this result around, and that’s exactly what we have to do.”As Tottenham prepare for the second leg, all eyes will be on whether they can respond with a performance that reflects their ambitions. The fans made their feelings clear in Alkmaar—it’s now up to the players to ensure they don’t disappoint them again.
