Postecoglou completely ignored £17m Tottenham star when he tried to speak to him last night – journalist

A telling moment unfolded in the dying seconds of Tottenham’s 1-0 defeat to Chelsea when goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario’s desperate plea to join the attack was completely ignored by Ange Postecoglou and his coaching staff.

With Spurs pushing for a late equalizer during ten minutes of stoppage time, the Italian shot-stopper signaled his intention to venture forward for a corner kick, only to be met with stony silence from the dugout.

This symbolic snub perfectly encapsulates Tottenham’s fractured campaign as they slumped to their 16th Premier League defeat of the season – their worst tally since the 2003/04 campaign when they finished 14th.

Currently occupying that exact position with eight games remaining, Spurs are on course for their first finish outside the top ten in 17 years, with the optimism of Postecoglou’s early tenure now completely evaporated.

The match itself followed a familiar pattern for Tottenham supporters. Despite Vicario making four crucial saves and preventing 0.8 expected goals, Enzo Fernandez’s second-half header proved decisive.

VAR controversy overshadowed the contest with both teams having goals disallowed after lengthy reviews, while Postecoglou further inflamed tensions by cupping his ear to traveling fans after Pape Sarr’s chalked-off equalizer.

Vicario’s performance marked his sixth appearance since returning from a three-month knee layoff in February. The £17m signing has kept four clean sheets in 18 league appearances this term, conceding 20 goals across 1,620 minutes of action.

While these numbers reflect a reasonably solid individual campaign, they also highlight Tottenham’s broader defensive frailties and lack of attacking potency at critical moments.

The goalkeeper’s attempted late intervention speaks volumes about the growing desperation at the club. Most managers would welcome such initiative from their last line of defense when chasing a game, making the bench’s indifference particularly jarring.

This apparent breakdown in communication between players and coaching staff raises further questions about Postecoglou’s management as pressure continues to mount.

Tottenham’s alarming regression this season has seen them transform from Champions League hopefuls to relegation-battling also-rans. The squad appears devoid of ideas when chasing games, while defensive lapses have become routine.

Vicario’s snub serves as a microcosm of these systemic issues – a talented player willing to take risks being stifled by a management approach that seems increasingly out of solutions.

As the final weeks of the season approach, Tottenham face crucial decisions about their future direction. While Vicario remains one of the few bright spots in a dismal campaign, Thursday’s incident suggests even his commitment may be being undermined by the toxic atmosphere surrounding the club.

Unless drastic changes occur, both on the pitch and in the dugout, Spurs risk sinking even further into mediocrity.

For now, Vicario will likely continue producing solid performances behind an underperforming defense. But the image of an ignored goalkeeper, hands outstretched in frustration as another game slipped away, may well become the defining symbol of Tottenham’s annus horribilis.

With European football slipping out of reach and fan discontent growing by the week, the North London club finds itself at a crossroads – and time is running out to change course.