Chris Sutton believes the ‘stupidity’ Cristian Romero showed was not Tottenham Hotspur’s ‘biggest issue’ against AC Milan. The centre-back received a red card in their last 16 defeat.
Spurs would only draw 0-0 with the Rossoneri in the second leg of their Champions League meeting on Wednesday. It ensured the San Siro side reached the quarter-finals having won the first leg 1-0. Brahim Diaz scored the only goal just seven minutes into the UEFA fixture.
Tottenham allowed AC Milan to rely on their first-leg advantage in the reverse match after failing to produce sustained pressure again. Pierre-Emilie Hojbjerg and Harry Kane enjoyed the best of Spurs’ chances to score. But Mike Maignan had an answer for their best efforts.
Cristian Romero failed to learn from his mistakes to receive a red card vs AC Milan
Qualifying for the 2023/24 Champions League season is now Spurs’ only target for the rest of this term. Romero compiled Tottenham’s misery at home to AC Milan and left Antonio Conte’s side staring at defeat when the Argentine received his red card in the 77th minute.
French referee Clement Turpin initially cautioned Romero in the 17th minute after fouling Rafael Leao. The centre-half charged into the winger despite the ball not being there to be won. The caution alone would have banned Romero for any possible quarter-final first leg.
Romero’s erratic performance continued and Turpin could have sent the 24-year-old off on 47 minutes. He produced a cynical tackle straight after half-time to stop Diaz from juggling the ball. Yet Romero would not learn his lesson and would earn his second yellow later on.
Turpin eventually showed Romero a red card against AC Milan after the Tottenham star’s lunging foul on Theo Hernandez. The £42.5m enforcer took the full-back out right in front of the dugouts. He has now received a second yellow card during two fixtures this season.
Cristian Romero was not the only ‘issue’ for Tottenham on Wednesday night
English referee Andrew Madley also showed Romero a red card for two bookable offences as Tottenham beat Manchester City 1-0 in the Premier League in February. It came amid a run of five games with a caution during six top-flight matches after winning the World Cup.
Romero has also received yellow cards during each of his last three Champions League ties after also being booked in the first leg at AC Milan. But Sutton did not feel the 19-cap star was the only issue from Tottenham’s latest timid showing as Conte’s squad exited Europe.
Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live: “The biggest issue for Spurs has been the lack of quality and creativity, along with the stupidity of Romero. The endeavour has been there, though.”
Per WhoScored, Tottenham produced nine shots to AC Milan’s 14 during the second leg of their Champions League last 16 meeting. But Spurs only directed two on target while their guests hit the mark with three. Kane and Hojbjerg produced Tottenham’s on-target efforts.
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