Tottenham fans react to Cristian Romero’s return from injury – Liability or just rusty?
Tottenham Hotspur fans are all saying the same thing about Cristian Romero’s return after 86 days out following Spurs’ 2-2 draw against Bournemouth.
Ahead of Tottenham’s clash with Bournemouth, Ange Postecoglou revealed the strange reason he did not risk Cristian Romero against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League.
His decision, he revealed, was influenced by the game state and playing surface, choosing not to take any risks with his centre-back.
That meant Romero was expected to get some minutes under his belt in Tottenham’s home fixture against Bournemouth, a necessary step ahead of the return leg of their Europa League tie.
Cristian Romero’s first start back – a shaky beginning but valuable minutes gained
Of course, Romero was named in the starting XI, managing a solid 60 minutes on his return. However, it was far from a smooth comeback.
A nervy opening saw him struggle with the ball at his feet, conceding possession in dangerous areas. Fortunately, his mistakes went unpunished.
Following his performance, we took to social media to gauge the fans’ reaction, and the response was overwhelmingly similar.
One fan commented: “First game after three months, was it not? Rusty is the word.” Another added: “Rusty but grew into the game.”
Bareth Gale observed: “Good minutes in their legs before the international break.” Meanwhile, another supporter took a dig: “Head is in Buenos Aires already.” Eddie Manders did not hold back: “Just in time to get injured playing for Argentina.”
John Stubley had a more scathing assessment: “He is a liability. On his day, he is among the best, but he does not have many of those days. Always a mistake or bad decision in him. If he is serious about going to Real Madrid, we should consider their offer. He would do well in Spain.”
Another fan summed up the general feeling: “I do not think Cristian Romero was ready. The hype and build-up to his return, only to realise within the first 20 seconds that he could have lost us the game. We should have kept him out until after Argentina.”
What does this mean for Tottenham ahead of AZ Alkmaar?
Despite concerns over Romero’s sharpness, one fan believes he should still start against AZ Alkmaar: “Rusty, but to be expected. I can see why he did not start on Thursday now. I do think he gets the nod this week though. COYS.”
The plan is clear. Postecoglou wanted his centre-backs to get crucial minutes ahead of Thursday’s second leg, ensuring they are match-ready.
With Romero and Micky van de Ven both featuring after extended spells out, it seems inevitable that they will form the heart of Spurs’ defence for the decisive clash in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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