Sandro hails Tottenham duo Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven as the best centre-back partnership in the Premier League
Former Tottenham midfielder Sandro has defended Cristian Romero’s leadership qualities and declared that the Argentine and Micky van de Ven form the Premier League’s best defensive partnership, ahead of Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba.
The Brazilian’s assessment contradicts opinions from Martin Keown and Rio Ferdinand, who both insist the Gunners duo represent the finest centre-back pairing in Europe.
Romero and Van de Ven have provided Thomas Frank with a defensive foundation that has kept Tottenham competitive this season despite their inconsistencies. The partnership’s resilience becomes more impressive considering Van de Ven missed significant periods through injury, forcing Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies into extended runs alongside Romero.
Speaking with Football London, Sandro praised Van de Ven’s pace and recovery speed while highlighting how Romero has matured into a proper leader under Frank’s guidance. He stated (h/t The Mirror):
“I think so, I believe that it is the best defensive partnership in the Premier League, because you can see the quality that Van de Ven has and his speed. Yes, he made a mistake against Chelsea, but who doesn’t make a mistake? Everybody does, and if you balance the mistakes and the good things that he does, he’s amazing.”
“The leadership that Romero has, it’s unbelievable. You can see straight away the way he manages the game, the way he talks with the referees, with the midfielders. I love Romero. Proper leader. And I think he’s now reading the game a little bit more to get into positions, where he used to get stupid yellow cards and red cards.”
“But now, I think he has learned a little bit. Okay, he’s never going to change, he goes for the ball, but I think he’s now a bit calmer.”
Romero’s Evolution Under Thomas Frank’s Management
Sandro reserved particular praise for Romero’s leadership development, noting how the Argentine manages games through communication with referees and midfielders. The former Tottenham man expressed his love for Romero’s qualities, describing him as a proper leader who has transformed the defensive unit.
Sandro observed that Romero previously collected unnecessary yellow and red cards but has learned to be calmer without losing his competitive intensity. He still goes for the ball with the same commitment that made him Argentina’s first-choice centre-back during their World Cup triumph, but now picks his moments more carefully.
Sandro acknowledged that Romero will never completely change his aggressive approach, but believes he has learned to read the game better.
Frank’s influence on Romero’s discipline cannot be understated. The Argentine has become the vocal presence Tottenham desperately needed after years of defensive fragility. His partnership with Van de Ven provides the perfect balance between aggression and recovery pace, allowing Spurs to defend higher up the pitch without exposing themselves to counterattacks.
Van de Ven’s blistering speed gives Romero the freedom to step into midfield and win possession aggressively. The Dutchman can recover from advanced positions faster than almost any defender in the league, compensating for moments when his partner pushes too high. This understanding between the two has developed rapidly under Frank’s coaching.
Sandro’s backing of the Tottenham partnership reflects his understanding of what makes defenders effective beyond just clean sheets. While Arsenal’s record appears superior on paper, the challenges Romero and Van de Ven face differ significantly from those confronting their rivals across north London.
