Spurs in chaos heading into final day as club captain abandons team
Tottenham Hotspur go into the Premier League final day without their talisman, who has left for Argentina.
Spurs go into the final day of the Premier League season balancing precariously on the edge of second division football. Consistently lacklustre displays on the pitch have them just two points ahead of West Ham United in the league and attempts to steer the ship into calmer waters have repeatedly failed.
Under Roberto De Zerbi they are almost there but have not done this the easy way, and it could yet end in disaster.
And it is he who is holding the rigging and spinning the spoked steering wheel, as now they’re also without their on-field captain, Cristian Romero, who has jumped overboard in an attempt to save himself.
“I have no time to lose energy or thinking [about] other things”
Romero is injured and will not be able to play. But what has not gone down well with the Spurs faithful is the fact that instead of attending the game along with other injured players, he is instead expected to watch his boyhood club Belgrano take on River Plate... in Argentina.
“The decision was with the medical staff and I think he can’t change nothing if Romero is at the stadium or not,” De Zerbi explained. “I have no time to lose energy or thinking [about] other things. We have to focus just on the game and I think we have the players good enough to achieve our target.”
The BBC reported that “it is unknown whether Romero is receiving treatment in Argentina,” adding that he is “in a race against time” to be fit for the World Cup.
“I’m not stupid... 100% I understand”
“He spoke with the medical staff. Together, they decided to go to Argentina to complete the rehab,” said De Zerbi. “We spoke last week. With me, he showed always he wants to stay with us. The injury is already injured and we have to accept.
“I’m not stupid. If I understand there is any player or some player who thinks for himself before the club, I can’t be the same Roberto. With Cuti Romero, I can’t say nothing because with me in my time, he’s been correct. At the beginning until now.”
De Zerbi added that “100% I understand” when asked if he understood why some Spurs fans have not taken the decision with the same levels of calm and understanding as he has.
Related stories
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.