In losing Guglielmo Vicario, Tottenham are not just being deprived of an outstanding shot-stopper but a key component of their build-up play under Ange Postecoglou.
But the head coach is not concerned about back-up goalkeeper Fraser Forster's ability to play his football, and insists playing out from the back is "more about mindset" than technical quality.
Forster is set for an extended run in the side, starting against Roma in the Europa League on Thursday, after Vicario was ruled out for months following surgery on a fractured ankle on Monday.
Forster came of age in an era when there was far less emphasis on goalkeepers using their feet and he has appeared uncomfortable with Postecoglou's demands to play short in his previous three appearances this season.
But the Australian has faith in the 36-year-old and cited the example of Joe Hart, who excelled under him at Celtic, as a veteran goalkeeper who adapted to his demands.
“I think there is a misconception around [my approach],” Postecoglou said ahead of Roma's visit. “I do want to play out from the back but don't need my goalkeepers to be [Paolo] Maldini or [Michel] Platini. In fact, the simpler they can keep it, the better for me.
“I keep saying to the players, don't pass it to the goalkeepers, they've got the gloves on, they're the goalkeepers and you're the player.
“The thing is setting it up so we give really simple solutions to our goalkeepers.
“It's not about their technical ability because you look at the way we play out from the back, and Joe's a great example of that when he came to Celtic, it's about them executing really simple passes that they do every day. They're actually quite good at it, goalkeepers. All goalkeepers. It's more about mindset.
“It's more about them not thinking that what they're doing is risky, because that's what it comes down to. It's not a skill. I'm not asking them to ping 50 yarders. In fact, it's harder when goalkeepers go long. It's actually a harder skill for them to do. So I'm asking them to do short passes that they're capable of.”
Hart, who is a year older than Forster, was discarded by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City for not being good enough with his feet, but has said Postecoglou “blew my mind” and “really opened me up” after he joined the Australian at Celtic in 2021.
"I always thought, 'Play out from the back, oh my god, does that mean that I need to do Cruyff turns, pick passes?' No it doesn't," Hart said in November.
Postecoglou believes Hart and Forster are more than capable of using their feet, provided they have the right mindset and team structure ahead of them.
“It's more, like I said, the mindset of it. Just showing them that there's no risk here. Don't worry about the risk,” he added. “The setup is there for you to execute.
“And I found that with Joe and other keepers I've had in the past where it was, 'oh, he can't play out from the back', and of course he can.
“He's a goalkeeper, he can pass the ball, that's what they do. It's just about having a structure which allows them to do it in the cleanest possible process. And changing their mindset.
“The only barrier to that is if the goalkeeper doesn't feel comfortable doing it. Not because they can't. Joe was brilliant at Celtic, he embraced it all in, and Fraser's the same.
“It's not like Burchy [Spurs goalkeeping coach Rob Burch] is going to start working with him this week. He's been doing it for 18 months. That's all we do at training. They get included in some of our passing drills, some of our possession drills. They're in there, so they're doing it. So that's where I sit with that.”
Postecoglou will not sign a free agent to cover for Vicario, while Postecoglou insisted that their plans for the January window have not changed following the Italian's surgery.
He did not, however, rule out bringing in another goalkeeper mid-season, saying their plans “will depend on where we're at from the squad perspective”.
Long- to medium-term, Spurs want a younger and ideally homegrown alternative to Vicario and could accelerate their plans if Forster struggles in the next 10 matches.
Postecoglou added: “Fraser I've known for a long time and he's such a strong character within the group and ready to play.
“That’s why he’s here. He’s already played in the Carabao Cup and a couple of European games. That’s the reason we’ve played in him and why he’s in the squad. He’s ready to go.”
