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 Sunday's 1-0 loss to Sunderland after colliding with Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky while attempting to defend the ball from Sunderland's Brian Brobbey. Although reports suggest Romero may recover in time for the World Cup, his club season is now over.
This latest setback poses a significant challenge for relegation-threatened Spurs, who are currently in the bottom three and two points from safety with only six league games left to play. Romero's injury is a huge blow to new manager Roberto De Zerbi, who had previously expressed his reliance on the defender. De Zerbi had labeled Romero a 'crucial player' after the loss at the Stadium of Light, emphasizing his importance to the team's success. With Romero out, Kevin Danso is likely to replace him for the remainder of the season.
Romero now faces a race against time to regain fitness for Argentina's World Cup title defense in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, with their opening game scheduled for June 17. The injury occurred when Brobbey, who was already on a yellow card, pushed Romero, sparking debate over whether the striker should have been ejected from the game. Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher noted that while the outcome was unfortunate, the foul itself was not severe enough to warrant a red card.
Ex-Cardiff striker Jay Bothroyd added that Romero was attempting to shield the ball, and Brobbey's push was an attempt to gain visibility. Tottenham's struggles continue under De Zerbi, with the team's performance against Sunderland doing little to inspire confidence in their ability to avoid relegation. Despite De Zerbi's high-profile appointment, the same issues persist, leaving the team's fate uncertain. Sky Sports pundits, including Jamie Carragher, have expressed their doubts about Tottenham's chances of survival, citing their poor performance and difficult upcoming fixtures.