Tottenham Hotspur's captain, Cristian Romero, will miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury sustained during Sunday's 1-0 loss to Sunderland. The Argentine defender was substituted out of the game in tears after a collision with Spurs' 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 reportedly inaccurate, and his club season is now over.
Romero's absence 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 remaining. This injury is another challenge for new manager Roberto De Zerbi, who 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 race against time to be fit for Argentina's World Cup title defense in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, with their opening game scheduled for June 17. The incident leading to Romero's injury has raised questions about whether Brobbey should have been sent off, given he was already on a yellow card.
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes the outcome of the play should not influence the decision, stating it was not a serious foul. Ex-Cardiff striker Jay Bothroyd agrees, suggesting Brobbey's push was an attempt to get around Romero, who was shielding the ball. Tottenham's performance under De Zerbi has done little to alleviate concerns about their ability to climb out of the relegation zone. The appointment of De Zerbi, one of the highest-paid head coaches in the division, is seen as a high-stakes gamble, especially given the team's persistent problems.
Sky Sports' Laura Hunter and Jamie Carragher have analyzed De Zerbi's first game in charge, with Carragher expressing his belief that Tottenham will be relegated, citing their poor performance and unfavorable upcoming fixtures.