Tottenham Hotspur's captain, Cristian Romero, will be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury. The Argentine defender was forced off the field in tears during the team's 1-0 loss to Sunderland on Sunday, following a collision with Spurs' goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky while attempting to defend against Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey. Reports suggesting Romero will recover in time for the World Cup are not entirely accurate, and his club season is now over.
This latest injury is a significant setback for relegation-threatened Tottenham, who are currently in the bottom three and two points away from safety with only six league matches remaining. Romero's absence will further complicate matters for new Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi, who had previously expressed his reliance on the player.
De Zerbi had described Romero as a 'crucial player' after the loss at the Stadium of Light, emphasizing his importance to the team. Kevin Danso is expected to replace Romero for the remainder of the season, having come on as a substitute during the defeat at Sunderland.
Romero is now facing a challenging timeline to regain fitness in time for Argentina's World Cup title defense in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, with their opening game scheduled for June 17. Questions have been raised regarding the incident that led to Romero's injury, with some arguing that Brobbey should have received a red card for the push that caused the collision. Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher, however, believes that the foul was not severe enough to warrant a sending-off. Ex-Cardiff striker Jay Bothroyd also shared his perspective, stating that Romero was attempting to block Brobbey from gaining possession of the ball and that the Sunderland striker's push was an attempt to gain visibility of the ball.
Tottenham's struggles continue under new management, with the team's performance against Sunderland failing to inspire confidence in their ability to avoid relegation. The appointment of De Zerbi as one of the highest-paid head coaches in the division has been seen as a high-risk gamble, given the team's precarious position in the league.
Despite the change in management, the same issues persist, and the team's prospects for the remainder of the season appear bleak. Sky Sports' Laura Hunter and Jamie Carragher have shared their analysis of the situation, with Carragher expressing his belief that Tottenham is likely to be relegated.