Roberto De Zerbi has defended Tottenham captain Cristian Romero after the centre-back flew to Argentina instead of staying with the squad for Sunday’s key Premier League clash with Everton.
Spurs go into the final day sitting 17th, two points clear of West Ham and holding a better goal difference. The result at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will decide whether they guarantee Premier League survival.
Romero, who has been sidelined since April with a knee injury and is out for the season, travelled home to Argentina to watch boyhood club Belgrano face River Plate in a title decider and to continue rehabilitation with local medical staff. He was also absent from the recent defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Asked about Romero’s absence, De Zerbi said, in effect, that ‘not all leaders are the same.’ He praised the example set by Ben Davies, who chose to remain and train with the group, and explained that Romero had discussed his plans with the club’s medical team before travelling. De Zerbi added that Romero had shown commitment while with him and that he would take a different approach with any player he believed was acting solely in their own interest.
The manager acknowledged supporters’ frustration, telling reporters he understood the criticism, but insisted Romero had behaved correctly in his dealings with the club and staff. Romero signed a new contract last August tying him to Spurs until 2029, but the recent disagreement with parts of the fanbase has reignited speculation over his long-term future.
De Zerbi said he would not let the issue distract him from preparations for what he called a ‘final’ against Everton. He stressed his focus remains on the matchday squad and named several attacking options — including Djed Spence, Kolo Muani and Richarlison — urging his players to show character and pride as they fight to secure the club’s future in the top flight.
Team-mate Micky van de Ven backed the squad’s recent performances, saying the way Spurs have played under De Zerbi demonstrates they have the quality to stay up. He conceded the club’s poor home record this season is unacceptable but urged fans to get behind the team for Sunday’s game.
Across the race, West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo told his players to focus on their own match against Leeds and to ignore updates from the Tottenham stadium. He stressed his team will approach their game with ‘maximum confidence’ and asked his players to concentrate on the task at hand.
With the season on the line, Spurs must beat Everton to secure safety; any different result would open the door for West Ham to overtake them on the final day.