Jamie Redknapp believes Tottenham Hotspur star Cristian Romero struggles with man-to-man marking
Tottenham Hotspur’s North London Derby defeat to Arsenal has sparked analysis from former Spurs midfielder Jamie Redknapp, who believes that key defender Cristian Romero has a notable flaw in his game. Spurs lost 1-0 to their rivals in a match where they had hoped to secure a statement win, but a second-half header from Gabriel Magalhaes sealed their fate.
The goal, which came from yet another Arsenal set-piece, was particularly disappointing for Tottenham, as Romero, widely regarded as their top defender, was outmuscled by Gabriel before the ball hit the back of the net. According to Redknapp, Romero’s struggle in man-to-man marking was a critical issue that cost Tottenham on the day.
Romero’s Man-to-Man Marking Problem
Speaking on Sky Sports after the match, Redknapp zeroed in on Romero’s performance during the crucial moment of the game. The former Tottenham player suggested that Romero’s ability to handle man-marking assignments is an area that needs significant improvement.
“He never got to grips with Gabriel. Last year in this fixture, Romero was doing zonal marking. I think he struggles when he has to do man-to-man marking.”
Romero’s positioning and physicality are often praised, but when it comes to dealing with individual battles in the box, Redknapp pointed out that the Argentine defender can lose focus. This was evident in Sunday’s clash, where Gabriel was able to overpower Romero, resulting in a decisive goal for Arsenal.
A Key Defender with Room for Improvement
Romero is considered Tottenham’s defensive leader, and for good reason. As a World Cup winner and a regular under Ange Postecoglou, he plays an essential role in Spurs’ backline. Tottenham pay Romero £165,000 a week, a reflection of his importance to the team and his undeniable talent. However, as Redknapp highlighted, even top-class players have areas to work on, and for Romero, man-marking seems to
be his Achilles’ heel.
While Romero has shown his quality time and again, Redknapp believes that this particular weakness detracts from his otherwise strong performances. His lapses in concentration, especially during set-piece situations, have proven costly on more than one occasion since his arrival in the Premier League.
Romero need only look at Arsenal’s defensive pairing of Gabriel and William Saliba for an example of how solid man-marking and positioning can win games. Both players have been integral to Arsenal’s success in recent seasons, and their ability to handle physical battles in the box has set them apart. For Romero, observing and learning from defenders like Gabriel and Saliba could be key to overcoming his own challenges in man-marking.
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Romero’s struggles with man-to-man marking were evident in Tottenham’s North London Derby loss, but the Argentine defender remains a crucial part of the club’s future. As Redknapp pointed out, there is room for improvement, and with the right adjustments, Romero can elevate his game even further. Tottenham and Ange Postecoglou will undoubtedly look to iron out these defensive issues as they aim to bounce back from this disappointing result.
Given how far he has had to travel in the international break, maybe we can give the Argentine international a pass this time around. But then, at the top level, there are few margins for error, however understandable or small they might be.
