Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury, a significant blow for manager Roberto De Zerbi as his side battles to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
Romero sustained the injury during Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Sunderland, De Zerbi’s first match in charge, meaning the defender will miss the final six fixtures of what has been a challenging campaign for the north London club. Tottenham currently sit in the relegation zone, in 18th place.
In an effort to foster team cohesion and boost morale ahead of a critical final stretch, De Zerbi took his squad for a meal in Mayfair this week, prior to Saturday’s home clash against his former club, Brighton.
"Yes, I don’t know if we win the game for dinner. I know we eat very well. The food was amazing and if we win, I am ready to pay every week for one dinner," De Zerbi remarked with a smile.
He stressed the importance of unity, adding: "We have to build and find in these last weeks the best relationship we can find, and I want to see on the pitch players helping their team-mates and pushing everybody for one target and to achieve our big, big target for us. If we don’t achieve our target, everybody will lose something in their career."
Despite the club’s precarious position, De Zerbi remains optimistic about their chances of survival.
"I am positive, I am ready to fight and I believe to keep Premier League (status). I believe in my words that I said last week. The focus is to win one game," he stated.
"Yes, I think it is crucial to win a game not just for the table. Of course one part of the table for sure, but we have to feel again what is nice to win a game and what it can do. I have no doubts about the quality of the players."
While De Zerbi did not confirm who would inherit the captain’s armband, he did provide an update on other key players.
Rodrigo Bentancur is available for Saturday’s crucial fixture after a three-month absence due to a hamstring injury, and Yves Bissouma is "100 per cent fit" after being an unused substitute against Sunderland. However, first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario remains sidelined following minor hernia surgery last month.
"Bentancur is available to play. I don’t know if to start or not. Bissouma is available 100 per cent. Vicario, no," De Zerbi explained.
Expressing sympathy for his injured captain, he added: "Romero, I am really sorry for him and his injury. Romero first of all loves Tottenham and the people have to know he is suffering for this injury and because he cant play any more for us this season, but he’s a great captain for us.
“We have to be any way positive. We have Radu Dragusin and Kevin, they are able to play and able to play well. We can win any way and we want to win any way."
James Maddison, who suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage in pre-season, participated in first-team training this week, but De Zerbi remained cautious about his immediate return.
"Maddison is a top player on the pitch with the ball, but also as a personality, as a character, as a mentality on the pitch," the Italian said. "I don’t know yet. I don’t want to push too much because we lost (Mohammed) Kudus in this way."
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