Tottenham Manager Thomas Frank Addresses Cristian Romero's Controversial Red Card
Thomas Frank has given his reaction to Cristian Romero's early dismissal during Tottenham Hotspur's 2-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford. The Spurs captain was shown a red card after just 29 minutes for a forceful challenge on Casemiro, leaving his team to play the majority of the match with ten men.
Frank's Assessment of the Incident and Team Performance
Speaking after the match, Frank acknowledged the difficulty of the situation but praised his team's resilience. "I think the first 30 minutes were a good away performance at a difficult place against a team with confidence and flow," he told reporters. "After the red card, I'm proud of the players, the resilience, staying in the game mentality. Still being a threat, trying to create something. I'm very proud of them."
When questioned specifically about Romero's challenge, Frank clarified that there was no malicious intent. "Cristian, first and foremost, there's no intention to do the follow through and make a red. He clearly goes for the ball. Unfortunately, the way the rules is, it's then a red," he explained. The manager confirmed that Romero had apologised to his teammates in the dressing room immediately after the match.
Significant Suspension Looms for Key Defender
Romero is now facing a four-match ban for the reckless tackle, which will see him miss crucial fixtures in Tottenham's season. The suspension will rule him out of:
- The midweek clash against Newcastle United
- The highly anticipated North London derby against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium
- London derbies against both Fulham and Tottenham
His earliest possible return would be for the trip to Liverpool next month, dealing a significant blow to Frank's defensive options during a critical period.
Teammates Rally Around Disappointed Captain
Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario offered support for his captain in the aftermath of the incident. "He is disappointed because he knows this red card could have been avoided so he apologised," Vicario stated. "He is our captain and today he made a mistake but we know the player he is and he is going to come back stronger and help us massively throughout the season."
The red card comes during a turbulent week for Romero, who had previously criticised the club's recruitment policy as 'disgraceful' following their 2-2 draw with Manchester City. Frank confirmed that matter had been dealt with internally earlier in the week.
Analyst Criticism and Defensive Consequences
Former professional footballer and TNT Sports analyst Ally McCoist was particularly critical of Romero's challenge during the broadcast. "Do you know what I think? I don't think he needs to follow through. It's ridiculous, I don't think he needs to follow through at all," McCoist commented. "There's a way you can go and challenge for the ball and win the ball. If he knows the player's there, which he does because the player is in front of him, it's madness. I don't think there's any excuse for that."
Frank also addressed whether Manchester United's opening goal from Bryan Mbeumo would have occurred with Romero still on the pitch. "No. That was the error they could explore," he admitted. "It can always happen, of course, you can play 10 against 11 but that was the area that got exposed."
The defeat leaves Tottenham languishing in 14th position in the Premier League table, while Manchester United continue their resurgence under Michael Carrick's management. Frank now faces the challenge of regrouping his squad without their captain for several important matches ahead.
