Guglielmo Vicario is statistically the best keeper in Europe at one key thing
A statistic from the combined top five leagues in Europe shows that Tottenham are keeping to their philosophy of playing out from the back and have the exact right player for the task.
The importance of building from the back
Playing out from the back and inviting pressure is an approach which can turn some fans’ legs to jelly. However, it is an approach that many of the best possession-based teams utilise.
Tottenham are no different in this respect and, in fact, tend to be even more risky in build-up than many other teams in the Premier League.
The way Tottenham spread their defenders and goalkeeper out as they build up means that while athleticism is highly valuable, it is passing proficiency which is essential in this system.
Luckily, stats seem to indicate that Spurs have managed to acquire at least one player who is well-suited to the responsibility.
Vicario leads the top 5 leagues
Whoscored.com shared on X that Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario has the highest pass percentage of any goalkeeper in Europe’s top five leagues this season.
With a pass percentage of 90.7% including a prerequisite minimum of making over 100+ passes, Vicario’s accuracy allows Tottenham to build up from deep to evade their opponent’s press.
In combination with Vicario’s impressive shot-stopping ability, it is unsurprising that he is already considered one of the Premier League’s best goalkeepers in only his second season in England.
Vicario keeps it tidy while others progress the ball
A caveat to Vicario’s impressive accuracy percentage is that he also launches the ball long less than the vast majority of other keepers and has the lowest average pass distance (FBREf).
His role is not to progress the ball himself, but to make sure his passes reach defenders or pivot players in the correct areas. This can be evidenced by teammate Cristian Romero who is in the top five outfield players for total ball progression distance in Europe’s top five leagues (FBRef).
Together it is clear why Tottenham’s build-up is so impressive and is often able to bypass the best pressing sides. Signing Vicario and Micky Van de Ven were well-targeted acquisitions, but Postecoglou inheriting and converting the remainder of his defence to his philosophy is a testament to his coaching ability and these players’ willingness to play his style.
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