Latest news with #GuglielmoVicario
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
PSG beat Spurs on penalties to become first French side to win Super Cup
Tottenham Hotspur's Italian goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario dives the wrong way as PSG successfully score a penalty during the penalty shootout at the end of the 2025 UEFA Super Cup final. Photo: MARCO BERTORELLO / AFP European champions Paris St Germain fought back from 2-0 down with five minutes left to beat Europa League winners Tottenham Hotspur 4-3 on penalties in a dramatic UEFA Super Cup. Tottenham looked set to give new manager Thomas Frank a winning start before PSG substitute Lee Kang-in pulled a goal back after 85 minutes and Goncalo Ramos headed the equaliser four minutes into stoppage time to level the scores at 2-2. PSG completed the turnaround in the shootout as Mathys Tel and Micky van de Ven missed for Tottenham and Nuno Mendes stepped up to bury the decisive spot-kick. The PSG players poured on to the pitch in celebration, knowing they had etched their names into history as the first French side to lift the trophy. "It's incredible to win like this. This team once again showed character, even if we're not at our physical best," PSG defender Marquinhos said. "We managed to get the goals we needed through the substitutions, and in the shootout we have players who take their penalties well and a goalkeeper who helped us." Tottenham, who finished 17th in the Premier League last season, took the lead after Van de Ven scored from a rebound and doubled the advantage when Cristian Romero headed home against the French champions, who won their first European Cup in May with a crushing 5-0 final win over Inter Milan. Lee scored with a crisp finish after his side had dominated the closing stages, before Ramos met Ousmane Dembele's pinpoint cross with a diving header to send the game into a shootout. "It's difficult to talk about this match. We trained for only five-six days, it's incredible," PSG coach Luis Enrique said. "For us, it's really special to have won this trophy and to be able to offer it to them." - Reuters
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vicario sympathises with Donnarumma as Man City target is dropped by PSG
Gianluigi Donnarumma has been dropped from the PSG squad for their UEFA Super Cup clash in Udine with Tottenham, whose keeper Guglielmo Vicario wished his Italy teammate 'all the best.' Donnarumma is into the last year of his contract and has been reportedly linked with a move away from the club, with Manchester City and Manchester United thought to be interested. Vicario is Italy's number two goalkeeper behind the PSG player who is also the nation's captain, but has been left out of Wednesday's match by coach Luis Enrique, who has just signed Lucas Chevalier from Lille. 'I know that he is not in the squad,' said Vicario. 'He is my captain in the Italy national team, I have good feelings and a good relationship with him. It's up to him and his club to find the best way possible for his future. I just wish him all the best.' Tottenham won their first trophy in 17 years in May beating Manchester United in the Europa League final and Vicario is keen for the side to win more silverware this season. 'Of course we have set the tone, we want to repeat and to win a trophy again because we have tasted the (winning) feeling and it is amazing. 'We want to do it again, we have an opportunity tomorrow night, another European final, and we are there because we earned the right to be here, to play against PSG. 'Of course we want to win. Football is all about winning and losing and sometimes it is hard. I am not a magician and sometimes you cannot find the right way to win.' Ange Postecoglou was sacked after leading Spurs to the Europa League triumph in May, and Vicario says he and his team-mates have full belief in successor Thomas Frank: 'We really believe in Thomas. It is up to us to believe in something and we have to do it all together, we have to follow our manager's instructions very strictly. We can set the tone again if we want to be successful.' The match against PSG is being played in Vicario's home town of Udine but he is focused on the game at hand rather than the emotions of the occasion. 'It is an emotional day of course but then as soon as we go close to kick off emotions have to stay apart, we will have to be ready. 'We have to focus on what we have to deliver tomorrow night on the pitch. It will be an amazing game and we need to be ready to win.'
BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
PSG 'are not unbeatable' - Davies and Vicario eye 'great things'
Paris St-Germain are not "invincible" and Tottenham are "ready to fight together" for Wednesday's Super Cup, says defender Ben Davies and goalkeeper Guglielmo get their season underway when they face Champions League winners PSG in will be the first opportunity for silverware for new boss Thomas Frank but, despite PSG losing in the Club World Cup final to Chelsea, it will still be a tough test against the French champions."It's quite clear we will be playing against one of the best teams in world football right now," Davies said."They have so much talent all across the pitch and it's definitely going to be a challenge."But, over the summer we saw that, whilst they played some incredible games, they are not unbeatable and invincible. We need to take some confidence from that and try and put our best foot forward to win the game tomorrow."Vicario, who will be playing in his home country when the sides step out at the Stadio Friuli, added: "I am one of the oldest players in the dressing room. Now is the moment to step up and to take responsibilities."I see a group of players ready to fight together. I don't want to give them any advice but we need to drive this team to the best possible version that we can achieve."We need to start doing that from tomorrow night. I think we can do great things together."
New York Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Guglielmo Vicario interview: Super Cup hopes, missing Son and adapting to Frank
Guglielmo Vicario spent three years with hometown club Udinese but never made a first-team appearance. In the summer of 2016, he left the Italian top-flight side and signed a permanent deal with Venezia, having just helped them achieve promotion to Serie C during a season-long loan. Vicario bounced around the lower leagues in Italy until he spent two years as Empoli's first-choice goalkeeper in Serie A and earned a £17.2million ($23.1m) move to Tottenham Hotspur in June 2023. Advertisement On Wednesday evening, Vicario returns to the city where he grew up as a winner of the Europa League. Udinese's stadium is hosting the European Super Cup between Spurs and Paris Saint-Germain. After a disappointing 4-0 defeat against Bayern Munich in their final pre-season friendly last week, Spurs have an opportunity to win another piece of silverware in new head coach Thomas Frank's first competitive game. '(Udine) is a small city, so just to imagine being involved in such an important game, a European final again, is a dream,' Vicario says during Tottenham's pre-season tour of East Asia. 'It's a big achievement for the club. What we did in Bilbao (beating Manchester United in the Europa League final), we earned this right to play against PSG. It will be amazing. A lot of people close to me, friends and members of my family, will be watching. We were season ticket holders at Udinese.' PSG's first-choice goalkeeper is Italy captain Gianluigi Donnarumma. Vicario and Donnarumma have not spoken before this game but they congratulated each other after winning last season's Europa League and Champions League respectively. Dino Zoff, who was in goal when Italy won the 1982 World Cup, grew up in Udine but Vicario's inspiration was a midfielder — his uncle, Alessandro Bais, who never played higher than Serie C. 'My dad, my uncle, everyone was in love with football,' he says. 'It's probably easier when you are a child to kick a ball than to try to catch a ball but I had this love for being a goalkeeper since I was seven. I carried on and found my way.' Vicario is strolling around Yeouido Park with centre-back Kevin Danso on one of the final days of Spurs' summer trip to Hong Kong and Seoul. They are both wearing a hanbok, a traditional South Korean dress, and are in the shadow of a statue that commemorates the 15th-century ruler King Sejong. The sun is scorching and cicadas are noisily chirping in the trees. Advertisement A couple of hours earlier, across the road on the third floor of the IFC Mall, Son Heung-min announced he wanted to leave Spurs after '10 beautiful years'. Son told his team-mates shortly before the dramatic press conference. A few days later, after an emotional farewell at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, the 33-year-old completed a £20million move to Los Angeles FC. Vicario was spotted after the game repeatedly kissing Son on the head as they said goodbye. 'I would have loved to stay with him forever,' Vicario tells a group of journalists, including The Athletic, before Son's move to LAFC was completed. 'I love him as a human being. We shared a dressing room for two seasons and we won a massive trophy. We will remember each other and see each other. We will share this good stuff about what we did in Bilbao that night. It will stay with me forever because we created history together. He was my captain on that day so I will be grateful to him for eternity. 'It hasn't been easy but I'm just happy for him. What he has done in his football career and life, he is a wonderful human being. He deserves the best.' Son's departure means Frank needs to find somebody to take over the captain's armband. Cristian Romero was the vice-captain under former head coach Ange Postecoglou, while Vicario and James Maddison were members of the leadership group. Vicario led the side on the final day of last season in a 4-1 defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion. Maddison's chances of replacing Son have been dealt a crushing blow after he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in this month's 1-1 draw with Newcastle United, ruling him out for the majority of the campaign. Does Vicario feel ready for more responsibility? 'I am happy to help the dressing room and the youngsters,' the 28-year-old says. 'It doesn't matter who has the armband. It is on us, especially the older players, to be respectful to each other and try to show it in a very good way. We have a lot of good characters in Cuti (Romero), Ben Davies, (Micky) van de Ven, Dominic Solanke, Madders. It's on us to lead the dressing room and do what Sonny did over the last two years.' Advertisement Vicario sounds like a natural leader when he talks honestly about Spurs' ambitions for the season. 'We need to improve our league position. Last year wasn't good enough. We will try in five competitions starting on August 13. We have an opportunity to win another trophy. We know it will be hard, playing against probably the best team in the world at the moment, but we want to be successful.' Much has changed across multiple departments at Spurs this summer. Frank replaced Postecoglou in June on a three-year contract. The only surviving member of the latter's backroom staff is Matt Wells. Fabian Otte has arrived as the new goalkeeping coach from Liverpool, after helping them win the Premier League title last season. He replaces Rob Burch. During Liverpool's pre-season preparations last year, Otte made the goalkeepers wear training goggles that limit peripheral vision and noise-cancelling headphones. Vicario describes Otte, who did his PhD in goalkeeper skill acquisition training, as a 'good guy', and they have quickly built a close relationship. The Italy international has been impressed by Frank, too. 'He is focused and clear on what the team has to deliver on the pitch, both attacking and defending,' Vicario says. 'Now we are on the way. It's on us how we can be focused and tuned in to his instructions. If we do it 100 per cent every game, even when the toughest period of the year will come, we will get a lot of joy.' Vicario was Postecoglou's first official signing and they shared a close bond. This year, the Australian called Vicario 'one of the purest human beings you can come across'. There were lots of different factors as to why Spurs struggled in the top flight last season but they lost eight of their 12 games after Vicario fractured his ankle in a 4-0 victory over Manchester City in November. Vicario returned in February and kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 win against Manchester United. However, Spurs lost 22 games and finished 17th as their focus switched to the Europa League. Postecoglou was sacked in June, only two weeks after they beat United in Bilbao to lift their first piece of silverware in 17 years. 'I texted Ange when I heard the news,' Vicario says. 'I will always be linked to him because we created history on that night. He was the manager on that special night when we lifted that trophy. Advertisement 'I can just say lovely words about him. He is a great character and he gave me the opportunity to play in the Premier League and confidence in my abilities to be the first-choice goalkeeper. I will be thankful for my whole life.' Frank will place different demands on Vicario compared to Postecoglou. Under the latter, Spurs rarely kicked the ball long in the top flight last season. During his time with Brentford, Frank instructed David Raya and Mark Flekken to chip passes over the opposition defence towards the strikers. Antonin Kinsky, who joined Spurs from Slavia Prague in January, might have a more varied passing range than Tottenham's current No 1, but Frank will find Vicario's experience and leadership invaluable during his first season in charge. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
The Sun
19-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Thomas Frank facing major dilemma over Tottenham players' futures including Son Heung-min and £60m Richarlison
DOMINIC SOLANKE will feel ace after hearing the comments of his new boss Thomas Frank. Frank, snapped playing table-tennis at Tottenham's training ground yesterday, spoke glowingly of the England striker during his first interview. 6 6 6 He served up compliments to other players too — though keen-eared fans also noted those the Dane did NOT mention. Frank, 51, is only just through the door and will take time assessing his current squad with 2½ weeks until players return for pre-season. But then he must decide who is in and who is out as he bids to turn Spurs into a smash hit for the new Premier League campaign . . . GOALKEEPER FRANK is unlikely to bring in or ship out any of his main stoppers. There was some talk of AC Milan being interested in Guglielmo Vicario should Mike Maignan leave, but Spurs sources dismissed the prospect of selling the Italian, 28. The biggest question mark will be whether he sticks with Vicario as his first choice or if Antonin Kinsky, 22, signed from Slavia Prague for £12.5million in January, can convince him a swap is needed. Long-serving back-up Brandon Austin remains third choice while Alfie Whiteman leaves this month and highly-rated Josh Keeley could go out on loan again after spending last season at Leyton Orient. DEFENCE QUESTIONS remain over the future of Cristian Romero, one of those stars not named by Frank. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS The Argentine World Cup winner, 27, appeared to be agitating for a move last season, even speaking of his desire to play in LaLiga during a candid interview. Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone would love to sign him but a proposed £60million price tag could be prohibitive for a player who has two years left on his contract. Bryan Mbeumo give his reaction to Thomas Frank becoming Tottenham manager 6 Fans will also demand a quality replacement if Romero goes. Spurs offered £70m for Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi in January and the England man would likely be a target again. One who may benefit either way is Radu Dragusin, who met Frank this week along with the club's other injured players. The Romanian, 23, damaged knee ligaments in February and never seemed to fit into Ange Postecoglou's style. But Frank has a history of getting the best out of no-nonsense centre-backs. Sergio Reguilon is out on a free transfer, leaving Spurs with only three recognised full-backs — if you do not count the versatile Ben Davies. So another is likely to be required. MIDFIELD FRANK spoke of trying to get the best out of James Maddison and Rodrigo Bentancur, so both seem to be part of his plans. Spurs hope to tie down the Uruguayan to a new contract with only a year left. But if that does not happen an exit would not be ruled out amid interest from Atletico. Yves Bissouma also has only 12 months remaining and a few weeks ago fans would have expected the Malian, 28, to be sold given how far down the pecking order he fell under Postecoglou. But he played a pivotal role in the Europa League win over Manchester United and, with Frank often favouring two holding midfielders, his future is harder to call. Spurs want the Dane to develop their young talent, including teenagers Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray. But another holding midfielder, perhaps with more experience, could be on Frank's shopping list. ATTACK 'DOMINIC SOLANKE, I'm a big fan of him in terms of his abilities. I'm sure we'll make him score a lot of goals.' So said Frank of Spurs' £65m striker, who was always going to be central to his approach. But who backs up the England man and plays wide? Spurs have been open to selling Richarlison, 28, for a while now but, with his injury record and two years left on his deal, they might struggle to get an offer for the Brazilian that they will find acceptable. There is serious interest in Bryan Mbeumo, 25, who scored 20 Prem goals for Frank's Brentford last term — but Manchester United are also keen. Mathys Tel, 20, has signed permanently after his spell on loan from Bayern Munich but another speedy wideman may be targeted given how Frank likes his teams to break at pace. Then there is captain Son Heung-min, who is open to leaving after marking ten years at the club by lifting a trophy. Son turns 33 next month, is wanted by Saudi clubs, as well as former Spurs boss Jose Mourinho at Fenerbahce and also has only a year left on his contract. But his unique commercial value means Spurs will not let him go on the cheap — and almost certainly not until after the club's tour to South Korea at the start of August.
