Cristian Romero produced a defensive masterclass to help Tottenham over Frankfurt in the second leg of the Europa League quarter-finals
A first-half Dominic Solanke strike turned out to be the difference in the end, as Tottenham Hotspur reached the UEFA Europa League semi-final by beating Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 in Germany.
One will never know whether Daniel Levy would have relieved Ange Postecoglou of his duties had Spurs gone out of the Europa League on Thursday – but he was certainly under huge pressure heading into a game that was probably the biggest of his reign so far. It was the Lilywhites who went into the break with the lead after James Maddison won a penalty, which Solanke converted in the 43rd minute.
Ange Postecoglou’s side were the better team in the first half and deserved to lead. And they defended resolutely in the second half to secure their biggest win of the campaign, which keeps the Australian in the job for now.
Among Tottenham’s standout performers on the night in Germany was Cristian Romero. The Argentine played next to Micky van de Ven in central defence, as Ange made some key changes to his squad. The North Londoners maintained control of all the areas without dominating possession, limiting Frankfurt to just five shots on target.
Cristian Romero looked finally back to his back with the no-nonsense, robust defending against Frankfurt. He completed 39 passes with an 85% accuracy rate. The 26-year-old had 71 touches, delivered four passes into the final third and completed 2/2 successful dribbles, showcasing his ability in possession.
In defence, the South American star made 10 clearances, and eight recoveries while making five headed clearances along with completing 18 defensive actions. The central defender also won nine of his ground and aerial duels while winning one foul against the German opposition. He also showcased his incredible aerial ability by almost scoring a headed goal from a corner kick to double Spurs’ lead on the night in the second half.
Frankfurt threw the kitchen sink in the end, and for all Tottenham’s defensive vulnerabilities throughout the season, they managed to hold onto the slender lead, and Romero played a massive part in that. He also showed the nasty side of his game by making a crazy challenge on a Frankfurt player in the seventh minute of stoppage time, earning a yellow card in the process. (Stats courtesy: FotMob).
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Romero has received criticism for his actions both on and off the pitch this season. The Argentina international has struggled with nagging injuries and inconsistent displays throughout this season, parallel with the struggles of the whole squad. But this was a display of real grit and determination, one that further demonstrated why he is rated as one of the best defenders in the Premier League when fully fit and running.
