by Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario will continue to brush off criticism and help Tottenham’s talented young side stay on track as one of the older players in the squad.
Vicario, 27, helped Spurs record a fifth straight victory on Thursday with a 2-1 victory at Ferencvaros in the Europa League.
It continued to improve the fortunes of Ange Postecoglou’s young side, who came under scrutiny when back-to-back Premier League defeats were followed by a narrow Carabao Cup triumph at Coventry.
Criticism of Vicario, who was named the club’s third vice-captain this season, was rife when Spurs conceded a free-kick goal against Arsenal last month, but the Italian responded strongly with vital saves and two clean sheets ahead. from Sunday’s trip to Brighton.
“I’m very proud of this (new leadership role),” Vicario said.
“It makes me feel important in the locker room because we are a group of very young guys, very talented guys, but sometimes you need old guys to handle certain situations in the locker room, to continue to develop these guys and to help them to do it. good things on and off the field.
“So I’m very happy with that, but first and foremost I need to focus on my game and make sure I can perform at the highest level.
“Criticism is part of football, you know. One day you’re great, the other day you are… I can’t pronounce the word!
“No, this is part of football and what can I do? I can’t handle it (control it), I just have to focus on what I can handle. What I can handle is part of how to play football.
Being able to silence critics has been an early feature of Tottenham’s campaign with Brennan Johnson on a five-goal streak in five games after deactivating his Instagram account following social media abuse following the defeat against Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Dominic Solanke has three goals in three starts since taking four matches to get off the ground following a £65 million move from Bournemouth.
Solanke’s form helped him return to the England fold after seven years on Thursday and earned praise from his teammate.
Vicario added: “I offer him my congratulations. This is a great achievement because England are one of the best national teams in the world. Being part of the team is a great achievement and I think he really deserves it.
“He is very intense in his pressing, very good in the play of sequence, in attacking spaces and also a great presence for us inside the area.
“We have that threat of him being there inside the box, so we can use him and play the ball in there. He’s a different type of player, we were missing a player of that quality so we are happy with him.
On the in-form Johnson, Vicario noted: “Brennan is a fantastic player. We know its quality. In the locker room, we know the good boy he is and also (Thursday) he showed everything to everyone, so a big honor to him.
Johnson’s 86th-minute goal in Budapest sealed Tottenham’s latest victory, but the night belonged to the four teenagers who started.
Mikey Moore, 17, flourished in his first start alongside fellow academy graduate Will Lankshear, while Archie Gray impressed in various positions and Lucas Bergvall, 18, played 65 minutes.
“They did a brilliant job, a really good effort for everyone. So let’s keep going and we just have to push them, not let them sit,” Vicario explained.
“Yeah, Mikey is a brilliant guy. A very, very good guy. His behavior and daily commitment are top notch, so that is to his credit.
“He showed on the pitch that he was a great footballer and that he had his future at his side. Now he just has to work hard, as he does every day, but we are very, very proud of him.
