Tottenham Hotspur's captain, Cristian Romero, will be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury sustained during the team's 1-0 loss to Sunderland on Sunday. The Argentine defender was substituted out of the game in tears after colliding 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 deemed inaccurate, and his club season is now over.
This 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 be deeply felt, particularly by new manager Roberto De Zerbi, who had labeled him a 'crucial player' for the team's success.
De Zerbi had expected to rely heavily on Romero but will now have to find alternative solutions. Kevin Danso is likely to replace Romero for the rest of the season, having come on as a substitute during the Sunderland match. Romero faces a challenging race against time to regain fitness before Argentina's World Cup title defense, which begins on June 17. The injury occurred when Brobbey pushed Romero, sparking debate over whether the striker should have received a second yellow card.
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher argued that the foul was not severe enough to warrant a red card, stating that the outcome should not influence the decision. Ex-Cardiff striker Jay Bothroyd noted that Romero was attempting to shield the ball, and Brobbey's push was an attempt to gain visibility. Tottenham's struggles persist under De Zerbi, with the team's performance against Sunderland doing little 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 was a gamble, and the same problems continue to plague the team. Sky Sports' Laura Hunter and Jamie Carragher have analyzed De Zerbi's first game in charge, with Carragher expressing his doubts about Tottenham's ability to stay in the Premier League.