Guglielmo Vicario was the player nominated for pre-match media duties alongside Ange Postecoglou in Norway on Wednesday as we count down to our huge UEFA Europa League semi-final, second leg against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday evening. Here’s a look at some of the things he had to say...
Vic on Bodo/Glimt’s artificial playing surface
“I don’t know, we’re going to try tonight, to be fair, so not impressed (bothered) about that. We knew before coming here that the surface would have been different to normal pitches, so nothing changes for us. We just adapt quickly tonight and we will be ready for tomorrow.
“To be fair, it’s not my decision. If they can play on this surface, on an artificial pitch in a semi-final, it’s fine. So we’re going to adapt. Many teams have played here, so it’s not an excuse to come here to say ‘oh, the pitch is artificial’ because many teams during this season and over the last years have played here, so nothing has to worry us about the surface.”
Vic on leadership responsibilities given the current injury situation
“It’s the kind of thing that we’ve always had to deal with, to be fair. We will not have Sonny and Madders for tomorrow so yes, it’s on us but it’s on everyone. The importance of the entire squad tomorrow will be crucial and we will need the contribution from everyone who’s going to start and who’s going to come in and from the guys on the bench. I think the Spurs family will play a crucial role in the game tomorrow.”
Vic on second-leg performances against AZ Alkmaar and Eintracht Frankfurt
“To be fair, every game is different, so we will have to be very tuned in tomorrow, because we know we’re going to face a tough opponent. They proved at our place and especially the record that they have here playing in their home ground, it’s highly rated, so we have to be very focused, everyone, and ready for this battle.”
Vic on mental resilience
“I think the point is to be really as we have been in AZ and in Frankfurt to show that team performance, to stay very connected, very close to each other, like you always have to do in a European away games, especially tomorrow in a semi-final, so yes, nothing changed on that perspective, to be fair. We faced already so many big teams away in Europe, so I can say we are ready for that.”
Vic on holding onto leads
“I think we just need to stick to our principles and to how we have approached games over the last two seasons and try to play our game. It’s important to focus on what are our strengths, our beliefs, and try to win this game of football. Of course, try to score goals, I think that will play a big part of the game tomorrow.. We cannot just wait and sit back and hope they make any mistakes, but I think it would be a game that we have to play in a smart way, but we still have to attack and to play our way.”
Vic on Ange Postecoglou
“I think we always back him, since two years ago when he started his job and we are really committed on what we have to do. We know exactly which is our way of football and we always believed in what Ange gave us during this period. Nothing’s changed, to be fair, of course, we went through two rounds, hopefully we’re going to do it again tomorrow.”
Vic on his experience of artificial pitches
“I don’t have a lot of experience (of them) to be fair. I’ve played, I think the last time five years ago on an artificial pitch but I cannot change this, so it’s just how quickly you adapt. As fast as you adapt, the easier it will be tomorrow, so it’s just the kind of mindset too. We knew before coming here that the surface would be artificial so we cannot change the condition of the pitch just for tomorrow night.”
Vic on Bodo/Glimt’s goal from the first leg
“I think every time we concede we are not happy to do that. Of course we wanted to keep the clean sheet and the 3-0, but we didn’t. So we are just to accept this and it’s a signal for tomorrow night as well to put more effort, more attention on which are the threats up front. But, yes, of course, I think the first half has been played, tomorrow we have to play the second half, so it’s a double game competition, it’s not a World Cup or a Euros that the semi-final is just one game, so we knew before and tomorrow we just have to play again a high tempo, high intensity like we did in the first leg and then at the end we will see.”
Vic on squad strength in the wake of recent injuries
“I think the squad has big quality, irrespective of who’s going to play. Of course Lucas and Madders are two important players for us, but everyone has had to deal with setbacks this season and this time, unfortunately it is their time, so we’re going to miss them, but I’m sure tomorrow night everyone also has in the back of their mind this belief and this desire to battle and to fight for them.”
Watch | Vicario's pre-match press conference