Tottenham skipper Cristian Romero was shown a straight red card for a silly challenge on Manchester United midfielder Casemiro.
Tottenham Hotspur once again failed to secure a victory in the Premier League after losing 2-0 to Manchester United. Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes scored in either half, as the Red Devils lifted their hoodoo of eight games without a win against Spurs.
The hot topic around Tottenham’s latest defeat is Cristian Romero. Having recovered fully from the illness that led to him getting subbed off at half-time in the 2-2 draw with Manchester City last weekend, the Argentina international led his team out against Manchester United. After a bright start to the game, the centre-back made a nasty challenge on Casemiro in the 29th minute and was immediately given the marching orders by referee Michael Oliver.
The game changed from that moment, and nine minutes later, Manchester United made a man’s advantage count by punishing Spurs from a set-piece. Mbeumo scored from a corner kick that involved Fernandes and Mainoo. In the 81st minute, just after Thomas Frank decided to alter his shape and go for the equaliser, Fernandes killed the game by applying a finishing touch to Diogo Dalot’s cross.
Thomas Frank says Cristian Romero apologised to his teammates in the dressing room
Cristian Romero’s moments of madness has cost his side on several occasions, and that was again the case against Man United. The 2022 World Cup winner lunged into an awful challenge on Casemiro and was rightly sent off, with that being his second red card of the season. The first sending off happened following a double yellow in the 2-1 home defeat to Liverpool in December.
Speaking after the final whistle, Spurs boss Thomas Frank revealed how Romero reacted inside the dressing room. He was quick to defend his skipper’s character while confirming that the centre-back took full responsibility for the incident.
“Cristian, first and foremost, there is no intention to do the follow through and get a red. He clearly goes for the ball. Unfortunately, the way the rules are, it becomes a red. Cristian apologised to his team-mates in the dressing room,” Frank told TNR Sports (h/t BBC Sport)
Cristian Romero let Thomas Frank and his teammates down
Today’s incident follows Romero aiming a cheeky dig at the club’s hierarchy on social media as he slammed the state of their squad and what he feels is an “unacceptable” lack of depth. The 27-year-old has dug an even bigger grave with his foolish antics today, as the moment of madness means he will miss the next four league games for the Lilywhites.
The Cordoba-born star will miss the games against Newcastle United, Arsenal, Fulham and Crystal Palace. Romero has been Tottenham’s saviour several times this season with his late goals, but his unavailability will have a massive impact on Tottenham’s ability to get results in any of their next four fixtures. And with Frank fighting to keep his job at White Hart Lane, that could prove to be extremely costly.
Tottenham fans will be hugely disappointed to miss their skipper for the next four games. They are all desperate for our team throw a spanner in arch-rivals Arsenal’s Premier League title dreams, but Romero’s absence from the north London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 22 could end up giving Mikel Arteta and Co. a big boost in the title race.