Tottenham -Baas Ange Postecoglou defended goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario after he was involved in a heated exchange with the traveling Spurs fans after the Europa League defeat on Thursday at AZ Alkmaar.
The Italy international went to the road supporters after an 18th loss of the campaign and seemed to encourage them to abolish their minds, but was confronted with a dissatisfied fan base.
Vicario also received criticism of his behavior on social media in the aftermath of the loss of the last 16 first legs in the Netherlands.
The 28-year-old said it was “only one way to stay together” and Postecoglou defended his actions prior to the Premier League home match against Bournemouth on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, who comes for Thursday's second stage.
The Australian said: “Vic [Vicario] is very, very passionate about this football club. He is very passionate about what we are trying to do here, he wants to win and he wants everyone to be on board.
“When people think that there is one bad or revengeful bone in the makeup of Vicario, they don't know the man I do.
“The man is one of the purest people you can ever come across. Whatever he does, he does what he thinks is best for the team and the football club because it really makes him.”
Vicario explains his gesture to fans
On Thursday, Vicario called together as togetherness after a hugely disappointing version when the only shot of Spurs came in the 88th minute, with Lucas Bergvall's first half of his own goal AZ handed over the victory.
“I can understand the frustration of the fans, but we still have a lot to play for, especially in the second stage. It is just a way to stay together because we get the chance to continue to the next round,” Vicario was on.
“We need them every game, at home and away. We know that they are very important to us and is now a big moment of the season. And with them we can play with another man on the field, so it's so important.
“I can really understand the disappointment they had because we did not show our level of football. It is disappointing for us, but we have to analyze and forget, and be ready for the next round.
“We have another game to play against AZ at our place, so it's the time to stay together now because we can go through this round.”
He added: “We take responsibility for what happened, but now we are going to show the real traces in the next game.
“The performance is by no means near the level that we should have played this game. We know it is frustrating. The result is of course not great, but we have to play the second stage, so it's on us.
“Now we have to analyze, but also forgot this game immediately. We have a big game on Sunday and ready for the second stage next Thursday.”
Ange: Van de Ven and Romero 'In Line' to return versus Bournemouth
Postecoglou has displayed defenders Micky van de Ven and the Cristian Romero “in line” against Bournemouth, after they have chosen not to play them in the defeat at AZ because of the field.
Van de Ven and Romero were unused substitutes in the loss, because Kevin Danso and Archie Gray were the center-back pairs in the Netherlands.
Van de Ven and Romero last appeared in the Premier League in the 4-3 home defeat against Chelsea on December 8, but were both able to return for three months for the home game against the Cherries, and hoped they will be back for the Crunch Second Been against AZ on Thursday.
Asked if the couple could play against Bournemouth, Postecoglou said on Friday morning: “There is a chance.
'When I saw the field the night before [the AZ Alkmaar game] I almost decided that I would not risk them.
“It was not a great pitch, it was not stable under the foot and it was not a game where I thought I had to expose them.
“But a few extra days of training and recovery, and hopefully both are in line.”
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