Tottenham Manager Frank Addresses Romero's Social Media Criticism
Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has addressed the recent social media outburst by captain Cristian Romero, who criticised the club's owners over squad size. Frank confirmed the issue was "dealt with internally" but stopped short of condemning his player's actions.
Frank's Response to Romero's Posts
Following Tottenham's draw with Manchester City, Romero posted on Instagram, expressing frustration that he played while unwell due to only 11 fit players, a claim later corrected to 13. He described the situation as "disgraceful," referencing the club's transfer window activity. This marked his second such public criticism in two months, after a similar post in January following a defeat to Bournemouth.
Frank, speaking to reporters, emphasised Romero's passion and importance to the team but noted he wouldn't have handled it the same way. "Cuti is a very passionate player and captain who wants to leave everything on the pitch," Frank said. "Sometimes when you are like that, you can have an outburst, but we have dealt with it internally."
Social Media Attention and Team Reactions
The manager downplayed the significance of social media, stating, "We all give it too much attention." He added that it's a challenge how a small number of voices are often taken as truth. When asked about teammates liking Romero's post, including Pedro Porro and James Maddison, Frank remarked, "We don't know what a 'like' means," avoiding speculation on shared sentiments.
In January, after Romero's first post, Frank had called it a "mistake" and spoke with the player. This time, he declined to comment on whether repeating it was going too far, reiterating the internal resolution.
Transfer Window Context and Squad Updates
During the transfer window, Tottenham signed Conor Gallagher from Atlético Madrid for £34.6 million and a 19-year-old left-back from Santos for £13 million, while selling Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace for £35 million. Romero's posts highlighted concerns over squad depth, which Frank acknowledged without direct criticism.
In team news, Frank revealed that defender Micky van der Ven has returned to training and will be available for selection in Tottenham's upcoming match against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
