Tottenham’s Cristian Romero apologises for Daniel Levy rant as Postecoglou provides injury latest
The Argentina international caused a stir following Tottenham’s thrilling derby defeat, where the team squandered a 2-0 lead within the first 11 minutes after Cristian Romero’s injury.
The 26-year-old defender openly criticized club chairman Daniel Levy and the higher-ups, pointing to the financial prowess of rivals like Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester City while expressing frustration over Tottenham’s lack of tangible progress. This discontent highlights the club’s ongoing struggle to secure silverware, with their last trophy being the 2007-08 EFL Cup.
Ahead of Tottenham’s crucial Europa League clash with Rangers, manager Ange Postecoglou addressed the media regarding Romero’s remarks. The coach revealed that Romero had expressed regret for his public outburst and had apologized privately.
Postecoglou explained that while Romero’s comments stemmed from his passion, the manner in which they were delivered was inappropriate. He emphasized that Romero’s emotions had gotten the better of him but acknowledged the defender’s genuine concern for the club’s future.
Postecoglou noted that Romero had made a mistake in how he voiced his frustrations but commended him for caring enough to speak up, even if it was misguided. The Tottenham boss dismissed the need for formal punishment, opting instead to handle the matter internally.
He underscored the importance of learning from such incidents and moving forward constructively, rather than focusing on punitive measures, which he deemed unnecessary.
Romero’s recent return from a toe injury marked his first start in weeks during the Chelsea match, but his comeback was short-lived. He exited the game after just 15 minutes due to a muscular injury, which is now expected to sideline him for up to six weeks.
This timeline puts his availability for the upcoming North London derby against Arsenal in serious doubt. In addition to Romero, Tottenham also lost Micky van de Ven and Brennan Johnson during the Chelsea clash. Van de Ven suffered tightness, while Johnson dealt with illness, compounding the team’s injury woes.
Looking ahead to the Rangers game, Postecoglou confirmed that Van de Ven and Romero would not feature, further depleting Tottenham’s already stretched squad. He expressed disappointment at the growing list of unavailable players but stressed the need to adapt, as the club has dealt with similar challenges for much of the season.
Johnson, however, is expected to recover in time for the Europa League fixture. Meanwhile, Ben Davies, Richarlison, Guglielmo Vicario, Mikey Moore, and Wilson Odobert remain sidelined, forcing Tottenham to rely on less experienced options like Archie Gray and Radu Dragusin in defense. Rodrigo Bentancur will be available for the European encounter despite serving a suspension in domestic competitions.
Tottenham and Rangers both sit on 10 points after five Europa League matches, but Spurs currently trail in ninth place due to an inferior goal difference, putting automatic last-16 qualification at risk.
Historically, the two teams have only faced off twice before, during the first round of the 1962-63 European Cup Winners’ Cup. Tottenham emerged victorious in both legs of that tie. For Postecoglou, this match holds additional significance, given his prior experience facing Rangers during his tenure at Celtic, where he secured six wins and suffered only three defeats in Old Firm clashes.
As Tottenham prepare for this pivotal encounter, the focus remains on navigating their injury crisis and rediscovering form under Postecoglou’s guidance.
While Romero’s public comments have drawn attention, the team must rally together to address their current challenges on and off the pitch. The clash with Rangers offers an opportunity for Tottenham to demonstrate resilience and reassert themselves in the Europa League, despite the mounting obstacles.