Tottenham star to face longer suspension period for what he did 18 months ago
Tottenham Hotspur is set to begin their Europa League journey later this month, but they’ll be starting without one of their most crucial players, Cristian Romero, due to a suspension from an incident that occurred 18 months ago.
On September 26, Tottenham will host Azerbaijani side Qarabag FK in the opening match of their Europa League group stage fixtures. As the favorites not only for this match but also to potentially win the entire tournament, Spurs face an unexpected challenge—they’ll have to do so without their star defender, Cristian Romero.
Romero’s suspension stems from an accumulation of yellow cards during a Champions League second-leg match against AC Milan in March 2023. The Argentine center-back received his first yellow card early in the match and was handed a second one just over ten minutes before the final whistle, leading to his ejection from the game.
The match ended in a 0-0 draw, which wasn’t enough for Spurs to overcome their 1-0 deficit from the first leg at San Siro, resulting in their exit from the tournament.
According to UEFA regulations, any one- or two-match suspension carries over for two years, meaning Romero’s ban is still in effect. As a result, Tottenham will need to find a way to secure a victory in their first Europa League game without him.
Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham’s head coach, now faces the challenge of finding the right defensive pairing in Romero’s absence. The most likely solution is to field Radu Dragusin alongside Micky van de Ven at the heart of the defense.
Although van de Ven is currently sidelined with an injury, he is expected to recover in time for the North London derby on September 15th, which would put him in line to start against Qarabag.
Postecoglou will be hoping to avoid any additional selection dilemmas in defense, especially considering that he has only named six recognized defenders in his Europa League squad. This limited defensive roster could prove to be a challenge as Spurs navigate through the group stage of the competition.
While losing a player of Romero’s caliber is always a significant blow, Tottenham might be able to manage his absence against Qarabag. The Azerbaijani team, while competitive, is not considered a European powerhouse, and Tottenham’s depth and quality should be enough to secure a positive result even without their star defender.
However, Postecoglou and Spurs fans alike will be hoping that Romero’s absence doesn’t become a more significant issue as the Europa League campaign progresses. The hope is that his suspension will serve as a minor hiccup rather than a major obstacle in Tottenham’s pursuit of European glory.
In Our Opinion
As Tottenham prepares to kick off their Europa League campaign, the absence of Cristian Romero will undoubtedly be a point of concern. However, with the right tactical adjustments and careful management of the squad, Spurs have the potential to overcome this setback and continue their quest for European success.
The key will be how Postecoglou manages his defensive options in Romero’s absence, starting with the crucial fixture against Qarabag FK. If Tottenham can navigate this challenge effectively, they’ll solidify their status as serious contenders in the tournament.