Tottenham skipper Cristian Romero jokingly says he learnt the technique for his overhead bicycle goal from Lionel Messi.
Tottenham Hotspur managed to end their three-game losing run with a point against Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Tuesday evening.
Thomas Frank was under immense pressure heading into the midweek Premier League fixture. The Dane’s side have looked out of sorts and devoid of energy in recent games, and his position came under further scrutiny when Spurs lost 2-1 at home to Fulham last weekend. The supporters expressed their frustrations after the Fulham defeat and were dreading ahead of the Newcastle United game.
Twice Spurs fell behind at Newcastle and twice they responded to earn a 2-2 draw, the first time they haven’t tasted a defeat in Tyneside since 2021. Cristian Romero, back from a one-game suspension, produced a captain’s display on the night, scoring both the goals. First, he cancelled out Bruno Guimaraes’ finish with a powerful header at near post, and scored a spectacular 95th-minute overhead kick to make it 2-2, after substitute Anthony Gordon had restored the Magpies’ lead with a controversial penalty.
Cristian Romero credits Lionel Messi for his bicycle goal vs. Newcastle
Cristian Romero was delighted with his superb bicycle goal that helped Spurs end a sequence of three defeats and earn a point at Newcastle. When asked to describe his goal, the Tottenham skipper credited his compatriot Lionel Messi. The 27-year-old says he drew inspiration from watching Messi do it in training in national team, admitting it as a “beautiful goal”.
“Every day with Leo Messi in the national team I watch him and it is a beautiful goal,” Romero said in an interview with Sky Sports. (h/t BBC Sport).
Messi is an absolute genius, arguably the best player of our generation. He has been a role model on the pitch for countless up-and-coming talents in the game, and no wonder, the Argentinean magician has also managed to inspire his national teammate, Romero.
Thinking of trying an overhead bicycle kick in the 95th-minute with Spurs trailing 2-1 is in itself audacious from Romero. The centre-back by no means caught the shot clean, with the ball touching the shin and trickling into the far post. Newcastle players and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale were left stunned watching the ball find the back of the net, while Romero wheeled away in celebration and ecstasy with his teammates.
