There are a lot of reasons why Tottenham Hotspur, despite a wretched Premier League campaign, roared back to win the Europa League this season. But one of the main reasons was Spurs’ first choice defensive back line, specifically the play of Micky van de Ven and Spurs vice captain Cuti Romero. It doesn’t take much digging to find statistics that clearly show Tottenham were a much better team when one or both of them were in the starting lineup.
And while Van de Ven made a spectacular leaping goal-line save to preserve Spurs’ 1-0 win in Bilbao on Wednesday night, Cuti Romero was, to use a Ray Hudson line, “magesterial.” We weren’t the only ones who noticed — UEFA did too. The day after Spurs lifted their first trophy in 17 years and first European trophy in 41 years, Romero was named Europa League Player of the Season.
I could dig up some stats that show you how good he’s been in the Europa League this season, but I won’t — we all know how good he is and what he brings to this Spurs team. He’s one of the best central defenders in world football and we’re incredibly fortunate to have him. This award is fully deserved.
We’ll probably have to endure a summer of annoying transfer news about how Cuti is linked away from the club, likely to any number of La Liga teams. But for now, let’s just enjoy him and his play. And maybe, in honor of Cuti necking straight from a bottle of fernet branca on the open-top bus this afternoon, pour yourself a tipple of amaro and give him the rowdiest of toasts. Salud, Cuti!