Tottenham manager Thomas Frank recently addressed the issue that Cristian Romero faced during the warm-up ahead of their clash against Aston Villa. According to Frank, it was a "minor doctor issue [and] nothing big." This unexpected incident led to a last-minute change in the lineup, with Kevin Danso replacing Tottenham's captain just moments before kickoff.
Thomas Frank, Tottenham manager, said:
"I think we were excellent. We gave away very, very [little]. I think ... There's a couple of things you can look into when you look defensively. We gave away what, eight shots I think. Not even a cross, more or less. Very, very low xG and Vicario didn't have a save [to make].
"So we've done that and then you've done ... Well we gave two goals away. That is in a position outside the box with a lot of players behind the ball where you said to me before the game, they will shoot from there ... Rogers and Buendía with that situation. 'Ah yeah, of course that's not dangerous' but a fantastic quality shot from Rogers. So in those nothing moments or very little moments, they had more courage in them."
Romero has been a consistent performer for Spurs this season, completing 90 minutes in each of their seven games. His recent start in Argentina's friendly against Venezuela during the international break further highlights his importance to both club and country. However, he remained on the bench for Argentina's game against Puerto Rico.
Uncertainty over Champions League participation
Despite Romero’s consistent performance this season, there is uncertainty over his involvement in the upcoming midweek Champions League game against Monaco. Manager Frank has yet to confirm whether or not he will be part of that crucial match.
Spurs are hoping to regain momentum after suffering a damaging 2-1 defeat at home against Aston Villa. The loss came as quite a shock as Villa managed to come back from being one goal behind thanks to stunning strikes from Morgan Rogers and Emeliano Buendía.
Defensive praise amidst offensive struggles
While Tottenham’s offensive struggles were evident in their recent defeat - failing to capitalize on numerous scoring opportunities - Frank praised their defensive performance. Despite conceding two goals, these were Aston Villa’s only shots on target throughout the match – an indication of Spurs' solid defensive display.
However, this loss adds more pressure on Spurs who have won just three out of their last 18 Premier League matches at home and have secured three points only once at home this season.
While Cristian Romero's warm-up issue seems minor according to Thomas Frank, it does add another layer of complexity to Tottenham's current situation. The team will need to regroup quickly, especially with a crucial Champions League game on the horizon. Despite their recent struggles, Spurs have shown resilience in their defensive performance and will be looking to translate that into more consistent results moving forward.
