Stuart Pearce didn’t hold back in his criticism of Tottenham captain Cristian Romero after Spurs’ 2-2 draw against Manchester United, describing the defender’s display as “horrific.”
The former England international and respected pundit was left unimpressed by the Argentine’s performance, calling into question his focus and defensive commitment during what proved to be a frustrating night for Tottenham.
Romero started the game as part of Tottenham’s backline but found himself struggling to contain Manchester United’s attacking threats. Despite Spurs showing spirit to fight back, the World Cup winner appeared off the pace and eventually limped off with an injury while the score was still 1-1.
His exit did little to change Pearce’s verdict, who believed the Argentine had been far below the level expected of a player with his experience and reputation.
“If I was a chief scout sent to watch Romero, I would identify him as a weakness,” Pearce told talkSPORT bluntly. “You can certainly get in behind him. And if I was sent on behalf of recruitment, I would say, ‘Leave him where he is!’”
His words reflected just how poor he felt the defender had been, noting that Romero’s positional awareness and effort were lacking throughout the contest.
Pearce continued his assessment with even stronger criticism, saying, “It’s horrific what Romero is doing at the moment. He gives the ball away in midfield and doesn’t even make a recovery run. As a defender, that should be ingrained in you.”
While Romero endured a difficult evening, his defensive partner Mickey van de Ven once again showed why he has become a fan favorite this season.
The Dutchman, fresh off scoring in midweek European action, was composed, alert, and consistent everything Romero was not. Van de Ven’s performances have been key for Tottenham this season, earning him praise from pundits and supporters alike.
Despite conceding a late equaliser, Spurs manager Thomas Frank remained upbeat about his team’s performance, especially their second-half response.
“I think it was a good performance at home against Manchester United, especially in the second half,” he told talkSPORT. “When we came out for the second half 1-0 down, the players stayed in the game and kept doing the right things.
We turned it around and got a deserved equaliser. We hoped it would be the winner, but we can’t run away from the disappointment of conceding late. It’s happened before in football, but to come back in the fashion we did makes me very happy.”
The match statistics told a story of a fairly balanced encounter, with Tottenham enjoying 55% possession compared to United’s 45%. Spurs also won five corners and recorded a 50.5% duel success rate, though they struggled aerially, winning only 37.9% of headers compared to United’s 62.1%.
It was a match filled with intensity and late drama, but Tottenham’s defensive lapses including Romero’s struggles proved costly.
A turning point in the game came when Frank decided to substitute summer signing Xavi Simons in the 79th minute. The decision was met with boos from the home supporters, who felt the young Dutchman was starting to find rhythm.
However, the change paid off almost immediately, as substitute Mathys Tel found the net just five minutes later to rescue a point for Tottenham. Reflecting on the decision, Frank explained, “Every single time I make a substitution, I do it for the good of the team with one aim to try to win the match.
Today, it was successful. Mathys came in and scored the goal. For Xavi, it was another step forward in a positive performance, but we needed a little extra freshness.”
For Tottenham, the draw may feel like two points dropped after working hard to recover from a goal down, but the display did show glimpses of resilience and fight.
However, Stuart Pearce’s comments will certainly sting for Cristian Romero, who has built his reputation on passion and aggression but now faces questions about his focus and consistency.
As Tottenham push toward their goals this season, the Argentine will need to rediscover the form that once made him one of the most reliable defenders in the Premier League.
