The tears of Cristian Romero as Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs) slumped to yet another defeat, this time at the hands of Sunderland, have become a symbol of the club's harrowing season. With a two-point gap to West Ham United and only six games left, the threat of relegation looms large. This is a critical emergency for Spurs, and their coach, Roberto De Zerbi, must act fast to coax something from this subsiding team.
De Zerbi's reputation as a visionary coach at Brighton and Marseille is at stake. He now needs to be a psychologist as much as a training ground strategist. His job is not just to coach a style, but to try to give the players what they need in terms of mentality. He must trust the confidence of the players and get them to show what they are doing during the week in a game.
Romero's downcast departure, wiping away tears, was a twist in this harrowing season. His injury, caused by a reckless intervention from Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey, is a crucial concern for De Zerbi. Romero is a good guy and a good player with a big personality, and his absence could be a significant blow for Spurs.
Former England goalkeeper Ben Foster questioned whether Romero's tears sent the right message to a team already a goal down. In Foster's opinion, Romero's character and grit are the only positives in a team lacking confidence and self-belief. He believes that Romero should have been more vocal and encouraging to his teammates.
De Zerbi's new team, playing three strikers, were not afraid to go long in search of results. However, they barely created an anxious moment for Sunderland. De Zerbi's style, known for pressing intensity and purist passing, was not on display, and the team's lack of response after Sunderland went ahead was alarming.
The Europa League win under Ange Postecoglou provided glory and long-awaited silverware, but it has been exposed as a flimsy fig leaf disguising fundamental deep-seated problems running through the club. The television cameras captured the concerned expressions of Spurs chief executive officer Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange, who must take responsibility for the left-field appointment of Antonio Conte.
De Zerbi must get the response he needs before Spurs' next game at home to former club Brighton. If he does not, he will be starting his rebuild in the Championship. The rot at Spurs is deep, and it may not be enough to turn this predicament around. The two-point gap to West Ham may suddenly feel like a chasm, and the lack of response after Sunderland's goal was alarming. De Zerbi has a tough task ahead, and his future at the club hangs in the balance.
