Cristian “Cuti” Romero should never be put in a position where he feels he has to explain deep, long-running problems at Tottenham Hotspur. That responsibility does not belong to him, and his reaction after the latest defeat made that painfully clear.
It was another difficult day for Spurs supporters. The 3–2 loss away at Bournemouth, a team that had not won a league game since October, summed up the frustration of this season. Even though Tottenham showed more fight and quality than they have in recent weeks, the result still went against them.
After the final whistle, emotions spilled over. Cameras caught Micky van de Ven and other Spurs players arguing with travelling fans. Whatever words were exchanged, it was not a healthy sight and reflected a club under serious strain.
What followed afterwards carried even more weight. Romero, the club captain and one of the few consistent leaders in the squad, posted a message on social media that felt like far more than a routine apology.
His words were calm but firm, respectful to the fans yet clearly aimed above the dressing room. He accepted responsibility as a player and captain, but he also pointed out something many supporters have been saying for years: when things go wrong, the same people are left to speak, while others remain silent.
Romero made it clear that the players feel exposed. He spoke about how certain figures only appear when results are good, offering polished statements and comfortable promises. When the club struggles, those voices disappear.
Instead, players and coaches are pushed in front of cameras and microphones to answer questions that go far beyond their actual control. His message was not angry, but it was honest, and that honesty cut deep.
There is plenty of blame to go around at Tottenham this season. The players have underperformed at times and they know it. Romero himself admitted responsibility and did not try to hide. Thomas Frank, still early in his Spurs tenure, has struggled to impose a clear identity on the team, and some of his public comments have not helped his relationship with fans.
The squad itself looks poorly balanced, with obvious gaps and a growing injury list that continues to hurt performances.
Still, it is fair to ask who Romero was really talking about. He did not name names, but the meaning was clear enough. Figures like Johan Lange, Fabio Paratici, chief executive Vinai Venkatesham, and ultimately the ownership are all part of the structure that shapes the club.
These are the people who make the biggest decisions, yet they are rarely asked to explain them in public. The manager speaks every week. The players face the cameras after every defeat. Those at the top stay quiet.
This has become an uncomfortable pattern in English football. Players and managers are treated as shields for failures that are rooted much higher up. Recruitment strategies, long-term planning, wage structures, and leadership decisions all come from the boardroom.
When those systems fail, no amount of effort from players on the pitch can fully fix it. Yet it is always the same faces answering the same questions.
Fans are entitled to be angry with the players when performances are poor. Criticism comes with the job, and most players accept that. But expecting Romero, Van de Ven, or any other member of the squad to explain why Tottenham feel directionless is unfair. The same applies to Frank. He is responsible for coaching and matchday decisions, not for years of structural drift.
What is interesting, though, is what has not happened. There is still no real sign that the squad has turned against Frank. No leaks, no briefings, no public hints of unrest behind the scenes. In modern football, that kind of silence often means the players are still trying to pull together, even if results are not coming. That unity matters, and it suggests the dressing room has not given up.
None of this excuses the leadership above them. Tottenham sacked Ange Postecoglou after a season that ended in 17th place but still delivered a Europa League trophy. Since then, almost every major decision has felt like it has backfired. The lack of communication from the top has only made things worse. Supporters are left guessing, and players are left defending situations they did not create.
Romero’s message was brave. It was not disrespectful, but it was direct. He stood up for his teammates and, in many ways, for the supporters as well. The players must own what happens on the pitch, but the wider problems at Tottenham did not start there. When a club continues to struggle year after year, responsibility must move upwards.
On this issue, Romero is right. The burden should not fall on the captain to protect a broken system. Leadership is about accountability, and until the people at the very top are willing to speak and be judged, Tottenham will continue to feel like a club drifting without a clear voice.
