Tottenham's Goal Crisis: Vicario Asked Not to Return After Juventus Loan

Tottenham Hotspur suffered another disappointing result after playing out a goalless draw with Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday night, which eliminated them from the Carabao Cup. The goal drought in the Premier League—zero goals from four matches—is the main focus, and manager Roberto De Zerbi is under huge pressure to turn things around immediately.

This crisis is not just about results, but also about personnel decisions. Richarlison, who was the club's top scorer last season with 11 goals, has been left out of the Premier League squad and will not play for Spurs again. His relationship with the management has deteriorated, and he is expected to leave in January. However, a bigger problem is looming in defence: goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who is on loan at Juventus, has been told not to return to north London.

Vicario was signed from Empoli in 2023 for £17 million and was a mainstay early in the Ange Postecoglou era. However, his form declined drastically last season when Tottenham nearly suffered relegation. Mistake after mistake caused him to lose his place as first-choice goalkeeper, with Antonin Kinsky taking his place. Now, during his loan spell at Juventus, Vicario has recorded a 67% save percentage in Serie A—better than his Premier League form, but still not enough for a team wanting to compete in Europe.

The decision not to rely on Vicario again is not without reason. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher once criticised him for a lack of leadership between the posts, calling him "embarrassing" when Spurs were under pressure. Kinsky, although not yet perfect, has shown a champion's mentality by helping save the club from relegation last season. If Juventus do not make Vicario's move permanent, Tottenham would be better off finding a new goalkeeper than bringing him back.

"He now has two options!" said Jay Bothroyd on Sky Sports News, commenting on Richarlison's future after he was left out of the squad.

For Tottenham fans in Indonesia, this situation reflects the importance of proper squad management amid fierce competition. Premier League clubs are increasingly aggressive in their spending on players, and mistakes in retaining underperforming players can lead to major failure. Tottenham must learn from past mistakes and not get caught up in sentimentality.

Going forward, De Zerbi must quickly find the missing attacking formula. The match against Aston Villa this weekend is the last chance before the international break. If there is no improvement, the pressure on the management and players will only grow. Will Spurs be able to rise, or will they sink even deeper?