Tottenham skipper Cristian Romero has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Tottenham Hotspur will be desperate to break their Premier League duck this year as they host Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday evening.
Spurs have spent the last week in the relegation zone after being beaten 1-0 by Sunderland at Wearside, and boss Roberto De Zerbi took his 18th-placed squad out for a meal in Mayfair ahead of the visit of his former club Brighton in an attempt to build relationships for a crucial final stretch of the season. The North Londoners have failed to win any of their last 14 league games this year, a run that has seen them drop into the Premier League’s bottom three for the first time this season.
The 46-year-old was dealt a big blow days after his appointment as the club’s head coach, as Mohammed Kudus suffered a setback in his recovery from injury and was ruled out of the season. Earlier this week, Cristian Romero became the second player to have been ruled out of the season in De Zerbi’s watch.
Roberto De Zerbi opens up on Cristian Romero’s injury blow
Cristian Romero suffered a knee injury in Sunday’s 1-0 loss at Sunderland last weekend in De Zerbi’s debut fixture in charge of Spurs. The centre-back was shoved by Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey, leading to a collision between him and Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky. The Argentine walked off the pitch with tears in his eyes, indicating something serious had happened.
Later scans revealed that the Tottenham skipper will miss at least six weeks of action, although he hasn’t suffered a torn collateral ligament. That will be enough to keep Romero out of the final six games of a disastrous Premier League campaign.
Addressing the media in his press conference, De Zerbi was asked for his reaction to Romero’s injury. To which he responded (h/t Football London):
“Romero, I’m really sorry for him and his injury. First of all, non-stop, the people have to know he’s suffering because of this injury and because he can’t play anymore for us in this season.
“He’s a great captain for us and for Tottenham. We have to be positive, we have Radu Dragusin and Kevin Danso, they are very good to play and give us quality with the ball.”
Romero has been a big player for Tottenham. While he hasn’t been reliable with his ill-discipline and moments of madness, the Argentine still remains Tottenham’s best defender and a match-winner on his day. The North Londoners certainly will miss his personality, leadership and experience during their battle against relegation.
However, it opens the door for the likes of Danso and Dragusin to step in and make vital contributions. Danso, in particular, has been reliable when he’s played and is expected to deputise for the injured Romero against Brighton.
