Cristian Romero unique: Tottenham defender says membership can create one thing particular to finish 16-year trophy wait

It’s GCSE outcomes day throughout England. At Tottenham’s state-of-the-art coaching floor in Enfield, academy gamers stroll down the steps holding certificates with dad and mom ready anxiously in the principle reception beneath them.

Making the grade as a first-team participant right here is the last word aim, however schooling is paramount alongside Hotspur Method. “Straight sixes,” one younger man exclaims.

Within the new system, a six equates to a B grade in previous cash – simply exterior the A and A* bracket. Completely strong, however nothing particular.

The identical may be stated of Tottenham’s first season beneath Ange Postecoglou.

Eight wins and two attracts in his first 10 video games set a file for a supervisor new to the Premier League, however, from January till Could, inconsistent performances resulted within the membership simply lacking out on a Champions League place, two factors wanting Aston Villa.

Defender Cristian Romero has turn out to be accustomed to being his supervisor’s star pupil. For Argentina, two Copa America titles both aspect of a World Cup has elevated ‘Cuti’ – as he’s affectionately identified – to the most effective defenders in world soccer.

Having been named within the group of the event, the problem now’s to transform worldwide excellence to membership soccer. With Everton the primary guests of the brand new season to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, the quick turnaround has solely saved the starvation burning.

“Being honest I’ve not had much of a pre-season as I arrived back right at the end of it, but the group is looking great,” Romero tells Sky Sports activities, nonetheless basking within the afterglow of his nation’s second Copa in three years.

“Despite the fact that the primary sport [against Leicester] led to a draw I believe there have been a lot of positives on show.

“For sure there were other players who like me had not had much playing time ahead of opening day, but we’re on the right road and all busy preparing hard to approach the second game in the best shape possible. We’ll be looking to put in a good performance [against Everton] and pick up all three points at home.”

Having scored 5 objectives final season, greater than another Premier League defender, there should not many issues Romero can’t do.

This interview, nevertheless, is being performed in Spanish. Regardless of transferring to North London for a price within the area of £42m – initially on mortgage – three years in the past, Romero is but to conduct one in English.

Two seasons at Genoa and one other at Atalanta helps the centre-back communicate Italian with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and full-back Future Udogie, whereas Pedro Porro to his proper and Rodrigo Bentancur in entrance of him communicate his mom tongue.

However after his finest pal in soccer Lisandro Martinez just lately obtained plaudits for talking on Friday Evening Soccer, the hope is for the 26-year-old to quickly present he can also talk unaided by a translator.

It was Maurizio Sarri who, at the beginning of final season whereas at Lazio, stated that ‘soccer performed in August was a liar’, not desirous to be drawn on the importance of three attracts from his opening three video games.

“That’s probably true,” Romero admits when considering the veracity of Sarri’s assertion. “They’re the first few games. You can’t say such and such a team will win the league based on winning the first five or six games.

“It is a lengthy season and a troublesome and aggressive league not determined till the ultimate few fixtures. There are often nonetheless a number of groups combating it out.

“We have clear examples over recent seasons where three or four teams are battling it out for the title until the final few days. So no, you can’t pick out a clear favourite now.

“You get all types of surprises the place the underside group may give an actual sport to the highest sides. Each sport is entertaining to observe as they’re very aggressive.”

How Tottenham’s 2023/24 season unravelled provided further evidence not to get overly excited by these early rounds. Twelve defeats in their last 28 games spoiled that blistering start that had them top heading into November.

So what have Tottenham addressed to make sure this season will likely be completely different? Romero says the membership’s goal has by no means altered.

“I really don’t have a crystal ball to tell the future or what’s going to happen next,” admits Romero, who is ready to make his one hundredth look for Tottenham in opposition to Everton.

“We’re going to give everything and train at our best in every session so that every game can go our way. Our aim will of course be to try and lift a trophy this season. But it’s easy to talk… the hardest thing is achieving that.

“I think we all know each other now. The coach and the group all know each other perfectly well. We all have to have the same basic approach on a day-to-day basis.

“That is soccer, so it does not simply rely upon the group of gamers and the teaching employees. I believe that the ambition right here inside our membership has to at all times be the easiest, as a result of if not, it is tougher for issues to go properly.

“I think we’re very much on the right track and let’s hope that this season can be the one where we manage to win a trophy.”

Postecoglou says he’s used to profitable silverware in his second season.

Monday’s 1-1 draw at Leicester felt like two factors had been left within the Midlands given Spurs’ dominant first half – however when the supervisor’s phrases on his personal monitor file in time period two are put to him, Romero doesn’t see it as including additional strain.

“Let’s hope that’s how it will go, but I approach each season in the same way regarding my own personal opinion. I always want to win, and I have that focus to always turn up every day and try and improve and try and put in my maximum effort.

“But it totally depends on everyone. I hope my team-mates are listening to the message and together we can create something special this season.”

Defending set-pieces was Tottenham’s Achilles’ heel final season. Solely three groups conceded greater than the 23 shipped from set-plays.

Postecoglou has dismissed solutions that specializing in this weak point in coaching will remedy these points – however Romero says it’s an space that should enhance.

“I think honestly that last season we conceded a few too many goals from dead-ball situations,” he says.

“That was one negative aspect about the team. It’s not so much about training or criticism that the team’s received, it’s more about all the players trying to be totally focused and switched on during the game.

“Neither was it ever a query of peak or being taller or smaller or the rest that will have been spoken about final season. However it’s extra concerning the focus and focus of each participant, in the long run it will depend on that. This season we’ve got to enhance on this space.

“In the first game [against Leicester] I think we started off by performing pretty well in that aspect and so now we have to keep that going throughout the rest of the season.”

This weekend, they face an Everton aspect who scored all three of their objectives final time period in opposition to Spurs through dead-ball conditions, together with a dramatic late equaliser in February’s 2-2 draw through which Romero might solely divert his tried headed clearance into the trail of goalscorer Jarrad Branthwaite.

Solely Arsenal scored extra objectives from set-pieces final season than Everton, so has this week seen any larger emphasis positioned on nullifying their opponent’s biggest power?

Romero says: “We’re working well in training currently and more than just focusing too much on our opponents we always try to improve anything that we did badly in the last game and look at ways we can hurt the opposition.

“We at all times take a look at ourselves, not concentrating a lot on our opponents, however by specializing in ourselves, if we’re on kind, I reckon we are able to decide up the three factors. That is the best way we strategy all our Premier League video games.”

Tottenham have developed a transparent id beneath Postecoglou. Solely Manchester Metropolis (416) secured extra excessive turnovers final season than Spurs (396).

In keeping with Opta’s PPDA metric which calculates the variety of opposition passes allowed per defensive motion, no group averaged fewer than Tottenham’s 8.8.

Solely Manchester Metropolis, Arsenal and Liverpool had a better common beginning distance from their very own aim at 44 metres.

On finishing up this high-line strategy, Romero says: “It’s really the coach who decides, but we all like playing the way we do. Like any system or tactic it has its benefits and can have its negatives.

“I really feel it is a system that fits us and works for us rather well, as a result of we’ve got the gamers who can win again possession actually shortly.

“Like Rodrigo [Bentancur] who is currently not able to play down to the blow on the head he received. He offers us so much playing just in front of the two centre-backs in the way he wins the ball back for us so quickly.”

Final season, Postecoglou prioritised remodeling the group’s model of play over ending within the prime 4. His early remit was to elevate the gloom that had set in beneath earlier regimes.

Tottenham confirmed in opposition to newly-promoted Leicester they are going to proceed to be adventurous and proactive, however as Postecoglou slumped to his haunches in time added on, that craving for tangible progress nonetheless lingers.

The following stage of the mission should present that Romero and his team-mates have matured into the A-star college students able to creating one thing actually particular in N17.