Tottenham Hotspur's captain, Cristian Romero, will be out for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury sustained during the team's 1-0 loss to Sunderland. The defender was in tears as he was substituted out of the game following a collision with goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky while attempting to defend the ball from Sunderland's Brian Brobbey. Reports suggesting Romero will recover in time for the World Cup are not entirely accurate, but his club season is now over.
Romero's injury is a significant blow to relegation-threatened Tottenham, who are currently in the bottom three and two points from safety with only six league games left to play. The team's new manager, Roberto De Zerbi, had previously expressed his reliance on Romero, labeling him a 'crucial player' after the loss at Sunderland.
De Zerbi will now have to find an alternative, with Kevin Danso likely to replace Romero for the remainder of the season. Romero faces a challenge 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.
The injury occurred when Brobbey, who was already on a yellow card, pushed Romero, leading to questions about whether the striker should have been sent off. Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher commented that the incident should not be judged solely on the outcome, stating that it was not a serious foul. Ex-Cardiff striker Jay Bothroyd added that Romero was trying to shield the ball and Brobbey's push was an attempt to gain visibility.
Tottenham's performance in the loss to Sunderland did little to alleviate concerns about their ability to climb out of the relegation zone. The team's issues persist despite the appointment of De Zerbi, who is their fourth manager in the last 12 months.
Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher expressed his belief that Tottenham is likely to be relegated, stating that they look like a team that will go down and that their upcoming fixtures do not offer much hope for improvement.