Romero plays “on a fine line” says Frank after red card in Manchester United defeat | OneFootball

An agitated Thomas Frank defended his captain, Cristian Romero, following the Argentine’s red card in Tottenham’s 2–0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Romero was dismissed for the second time this season and will now miss four matches – including the North London Derby – after following through on a challenge on Casemiro.

Despite having publicly criticised the club’s ownership earlier this week for leaving the squad short-handed, the Spurs captain now adds himself to an already lengthy injury and suspension list. However, Frank insists he still has full faith in Romero’s approach to the game.

The Dane said: “I think if you look at how many red cards he has had, it’s not like he’s had that many throughout his career. You play with passion, and you play with aggression, and there’s a fine line when you do that.”

Frank was unaware that Romero has now received more red cards than any other Premier League player since joining Tottenham in 2021, this being the sixth of his Spurs career, but the manager stood by his decision to hand the 27-year-old the armband.

When asked whether he regretted making Romero captain, Frank said: “No, I don’t. He was also sorry for the incident. He apologised to his team-mates in the dressing room. He’s one of the most important players, and when he performs at his top level, he drives the team.”

While much of the focus centred on Romero and the latest moment in a season littered with controversy, Frank also praised the efforts of the players who remained on the pitch for over an hour while down to 10 men. Spurs struggled to pose a threat, managing just one shot on target, but the manager highlighted their resilience.

“I think we started the first 30 minutes well,’ explained Frank. “It was a good away performance – very even against a Manchester United team in form and playing with confidence. The red card changed the momentum, of course.

“I’m very proud of the players, especially in the last 60-plus minutes, including injury time. They showed resilience, stayed in the game, didn’t crumble, kept fighting, and still had moments where we maybe could have found a goal.”

Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes condemned Spurs to their tenth Premier League defeat of the season, extending their winless run to seven league matches. The gap to the relegation zone could now be cut to six points.

Frank was unable to provide an update on Destiny Udogie, who was forced off with an injury and is now joining an increasingly overcrowded treatment room at Hotspur Way.