Danny Murphy: Cristian Romero is not crying for Tottenham, it’s Argentina he’s worried about
Danny Murphy has claimed Cristian Romero’s tears during Tottenham’s latest defeat were not over the the club’s worsening relegation fears.
The Spurs captain was spotted crying as left the pitch injured following an injury in his team’s 1-0 loss to Sunderland on Sunday.
Romero limped off after colliding with goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky in the second half at the Stadium of Light.
It was not immediately clear what the nature of the injury was, but the 27-year-old was unable to play on and was visibly distressed as he made his way to the sidelines.
While he did not require a stretcher, Romero could not hide his despair as he was seen leaving the pitch in tears.
Tottenham boss Robert De Zerbi – who lost his first game in charge against Sunderland – has since revealed the club are yet to discover the seriousness of the injury, but confirmed it could be a knee issue.
Romero wasn’t the only Spurs player visibly emotional during their latest defeat, with Micky van de Ven also in tears at full time.
The two centre-backs’ tearful reactions came after the damaging loss to Sunderland left the north Londoners 18th in the Premier League.
Spurs are now two points from safety with six matches remaining, as they aim to avoid a first relegation for 49 years.
‘Why are you crying?’
While many assumed Romero’s tears were in response to the worsening situation at Tottenham, former midfielder Danny Murphy believes another reason was behind this.
The ex-Spurs man claimed he was likely crying out of fear he will miss the upcoming World Cup, with the defender a key part of Argentina’s squad that will head to the USA, Canada and Mexico as defending champions.
Speaking on talkSPORT’s White and Jordan, Murphy said: “I think his tears were probably because he thinks he’ll miss the World Cup.
“I know that sounds a bit cynical, but…”
Romero has sparked controversy in recent weeks, after rumours of a potential summer exit from Tottenham were fuelled when his father publicly addressed his future and revealed his Spurs release clause.
However, while Murphy didn’t doubt that Romero cares for Tottenham, he insisted the World Cup was likely on his mind when he was forced off the pitch against Sunderland.
On the centre-back’s tears against Sunderland, he continued: “Why are you crying if you’ve just got a knock?
“I mean, it did look a naughty one [the collision]. I think he thinks he’s done his knee, I think he knows’.
“You know as a player when you’ve got a bad one and I think the tears were: ‘I’m going to miss the World Cup’.
“I’m not saying he doesn’t care about Tottenham, but what I mean is, that wasn’t: ‘Oh, I’m leaving the pitch and we’ll lose’.”
Bleak verdict
Romero’s tears summed up a miserable afternoon for Tottenham at Sunderland, who failed to turn a corner in Roberto De Zerbi‘s first match since his appointment as head coach.
Tasked with transforming Spurs’ fortunes, the Italian’s new side once again lacked creativity and conviction at the Stadium of Light.
And Murphy insisted De Zerbi’s group must show more if they are to turn things and avoid an embarrassing relegation, as he laid into the performance against Sunderland
He said: ”The reality is, you’ve got to score goals to win games and their front players have got no confidence, no belief in themselves.
“There’s no creativity, there’s no Maddison-type player who takes the ball in dangerous situations and risks the ball.”
Murphy then insisted he had not seen any of De Zerbi’s trademark, front-footed style of play against Sunderland.
On Spurs, he continued: “They are toothless.
“And I didn’t really see what he’d been working on. I could see what he’d been working on defensively in the shape. Although Sunderland had the better chances, there wasn’t that much in it, in the first half especially.
“But I didn’t understand how they were going to score a goal.
“Where was the width coming from? Where were the crosses coming from? Who’s going to play Dominic Solanke in? Who’s going to get past him? No one ran past him to make space. It was all rigid.”
Issuing a bleak warning, Murphy finished off: “If that carries on, they’re doomed. Because you’ve got to score some goals.
“You don’t have to be completely gung-ho and lose the game doing that because they’re not that good at the moment. But you have to do a bit more.”
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