‘It’s a big flaw in his game’: Jermaine Jenas laments Cristian Romero after the Tottenham defender was sent off for the second time this season after two yellow cards in Spurs’ Champions League loss to AC Milan
Jermaine Jenas has opened up about his frustration with ‘brilliant defender’ Cristian Romero after he was sent off during Tottenham’s Champions League clash with AC Milan.
The Argentine star was sent off with a second yellow card after a second-half reckless tackle in north London. Spurs could only draw the game 0-0, and have been left out of the Champions League after losing the first leg 1-0.
“It’s a big flaw in his game,” Jenas said on BT Sport after the dismissal. ‘We talked about it after 15 minutes. He is a great player, Cristian Romero, and he is very loved here.
He’s a brilliant, brilliant defender, but this is a part of his game that he needs to figure out. You love the all-or-nothing nature to him, but he should be aware that he’s on a yellow card.
Sportsmail’s Chris Sutton agreed with the former Spurs midfielder, telling BBC Radio Five Live: ‘It’s so, so reckless of Romero.
Cristiano Romero was sent off against AC Milan after two challenged streaks in north London
The Argentinian defender has a tendency to make unnecessarily rash challenges.
Antonio Conte’s team has been eliminated from two major tournaments in the last seven days.
We talked about the early booking that put him under pressure and he gambled on a challenge with Theo Hernandez and had to get the ball. He has taken Hernandez out and the referee has no choice.
Pundits seemed to agree that the central defender had the potential to be a great defender, but that his inability to adapt was holding him back after picking up a first yellow card.
“He could be something special as a defender but he hasn’t learned,” Glen Hoddle told BT Sport, “he’s drawn to the ball, he’s not trying to catch the player, he’s going for the ball, but when you’re on a yellow card you you’re wrong for a fraction of a second and you’re out.
‘His emotions go into big games. It is something easy to correct. You can change it overnight if you want.
Rio Ferdinand added that Romero is an ’emotional defender’ and if he can become a ‘thinking’ player, he could become a ‘top central defender’.