Cristian Romero was shown a red card for Tottenham Hotspur after a challenge on Manchester United midfielder Casemiro in the first half on Saturday
Manchester United have been given a verdict from commentator Ally McCoist and pundit Paul Merson after Cristian Romero's red card for Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. The Spurs centre-back was sent off in the 29th minute for a dangerous challenge on Reds midfielder Casemiro.
Tottenham's captain will now serve a four-game ban after his second red card of the season. There was some concern for Casemiro after the challenge with Romero going in on the Brazilian's ankle.
But the 33-year-old was able to continue as he looks to end his final few months as a United player strongly. And numerous pundits have offered their verdicts on the sending off, with one of them being McCoist while commentating on the match at Old Trafford for TNT Sports.
He said: "He definitely catches studs on ankle. It does look really painful. I don’t think he needs to follow through, I think it’s ridiculous.
"There’s a way he can challenge for the ball and win the ball, it’s madness. He’s just letting his teammates down again, he doesn’t need to do that."
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Paul Merson added on Sky Sports: "I hope this doesn't get silly and Man Utd win four and five, and then the Tottenham fans are sitting in the pub after going 'if everybody was like Romero we'd be alright, if everybody got stuck in.
"He's the reason they'll probably get beat now. He's the reason. Unbelievable." The Premier League's official Match Centre account on X have since confirmed why Romero was sent off.
The post said: "The referee’s call of red card to Romero for serious foul play was checked and confirmed by VAR, with it deemed that the challenge was made with excessive force and endangered an opponent."
United took the lead moments later through Bryan Mbeumo. The Reds are chasing a fourth consecutive win in the Premier League - a feat they have not achieved since 2024 under Erik ten Hag.
And Michael Carrick's side have a winnable set of fixtures on paper over the next few weeks. United go to relegation strugglers West Ham on Tuesday before taking on mid-table Everton and out-of-form Crystal Palace.
There is already a clamour in some quarters for interim head coach Carrick to be given the United job on a permanent basis. However, the former Reds midfielder insists his impressive start as United boss has not changed his prospects of getting the job permanently.
"Nothing's changed, no," Carrick told a news conference ahead of Tottenham's visit to Old Trafford on Saturday.
"To be honest, it's not going to change what I do or how I feel about it. I think I'm fully aware of the role I'm doing here and the responsibility I've got.
"We want to be successful. I want the club to be successful beyond the end of the season: if that's me, if that's somebody else.
"At this stage, I can't control that, and we'll see what happens."