• Gesture after AZ defeat poorly received by some fans
• ‘It’s the moment to stick together,’ goalkeeper says

Guglielmo Vicario has said he “understands the frustration of the fans” after the Tottenham goalkeeper was involved in an emotional exchange after his side’s 1-0 defeat at AZ in the first leg of their Europa League tie.

Vicario kept Ange Postecoglou’s side in contention to reach the quarter-finals with several fine saves as Spurs put in a disappointing performance in the Netherlands. The Italian went to the away fans after the full-time whistle and raised his arms in a gesture that appeared to be encouraging them to show more support. That did not go down well with some and Vicario reacted angrily before leaving the pitch.

• Captain critical of ‘sloppy’ Europa League display
• Ange Postecoglou: ‘We didn’t have the right mindset’

Son Heung-min insisted that ­Tottenham’s defeat by AZ in the Europa League must be a “wake-up call” for their hopes of winning silverware this season as Ange Postecoglou admitted his side did not have the “right mindset for an away game in Europe”.

Spurs managed only one shot on target in the first leg of their last-16 tie and Lucas Bergvall’s own goal handed the Dutch side a slender advantage for next week’s second leg in north London. In the second half, Son was replaced by Dominic Solanke, who was then forced off himself. The England striker had just returned from seven weeks out with a knee injury, but Postecoglou said he hoped the latest problem was just a knock.

If Ange Postecoglou was hoping that things might be different for ­Tottenham in the Europa League, then he was sadly mistaken. An abject ­display in which his side fell behind to an early own goal from the unfortunate Lucas Bergvall and then failed to lay a glove on AZ Alkmaar means the ­Australian’s chances of maintaining the proud record of winning a trophy in his second season at every club he has managed now rest on next week’s second leg.

The home side – who are known as the cheese heads – could have been out of sight after repeatedly finding holes in the Spurs defence had it not been for two excellent saves from ­Guglielmo Vicario, including one to deny the Tottenham academy graduate Troy ­Parrott in the first half. Even though Spurs have not even reached the quarter-­finals of this competition in five attempts since 2013, ­Postecoglou said ­beforehand that his players sensed an opportunity to win it now that some of them are back from injury. But the sight of Tottenham’s record signing, Dominic Solanke, limping off late with a ­suspected back problem on his return from seven weeks out with a knee injury potentially made it an even more disastrous evening for the head coach.