:focal(1352x549:1354x547)/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/09/15/image-d7307d24-dc91-450c-b5a3-e56adf45d19a-85-2560-1440.jpeg "‘So angry’ Romero admits past criticism was a ‘mistake’ but sees bright future with Frank - TNT Sports")
Published 15/09/2025 at 22:28 GMT+1
Cristian Romero says Tottenham are moving in the right direction but has admitted frustration at a failure to act like "big clubs" sparked previous comments. Spurs beat Manchester United to secure a first trophy in 17 years with Europa League success in May, which earned qualification into this season's Champions League - and Romero hopes it is the first of many pieces of silverware with the club.
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Cristian Romero is confident that Tottenham are heading in the right direction and praised the swift impact of Thomas Frank as the club prepares to embark on their return to the UEFA Champions League this week.
Last December, following a 4-3 defeat by Chelsea, the Spurs captain appeared to criticise the club's board during a sit-down with Telemundo Deportes, claiming the club had fallen behind rivals due to a lack of investment.
Romero said: "Man City competes every year, you see how Liverpool strengthens its squad, Chelsea strengthens their squad, doesn’t do well, strengthens again, and now they’re seeing results. Those are the things to imitate."
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Ultimately, the club would finish 17th under Ange Postecoglou but ended the season by clinching the UEFA Europa League with victory over Premier League rivals Manchester United.
Despite ending the club's 17-year wait for silverware, it ultimately cost Postecoglou his job, with the early days of Frank's reign hinting at producing more consistent performances and forging sustainable success at the North London club.
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Spurs' total net spend for the summer of 2025 came to £145m, but the departure of chairman Daniel Levy earlier this month has signalled the club's desire to move in a new direction.
Romero now appears buoyed by Tottenham's revival under Frank.
Ahead of Tuesday's visit of Villarreal in the Champions League, the 27-year-old admitted: "Yes, I did a lot of interviews which seemed like I was talking badly about people inside the club, but in the end I’m a person who sometimes makes mistakes and that’s it.
"I always want the best for the club. Sometimes, things have been said that aren’t true as well, but always, everything I said is because I want there to be a structure of a club that can be at the top level, part of the big clubs.
"That’s why I was sometimes so angry before, but today I see a very, very organised club with a clear idea and a coach who is organising things, and everyone is seeing that in a short space of time we are with him and that’s it.
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"Absolutely everyone inside is looking in the same direction, and that is the important thing. We hope obviously, to continue like this. There are objectives for the season but as I said before, our heads are in tomorrow’s game.
"We are going to enjoy that we’re back in the Champions League, that’s the most important thing. I see a fantastic group, a coach who leaves us with a clear idea.
"The group is very happy, and we have to go game by game but I believe we can achieve great things. We hope and we are going to fight to lift another trophy."
Tuesday night will be the first time Tottenham have played at home since the shock of Levy stepping down from his position on September 2, the last step in what was a summer of change that saw Vinai Venkatesham begin his role as chief executive back in June before Frank's arrival.
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Romero added on Levy: "I don’t know what’s happened, but he’s a person who’s been at the club for a good many years. We need to thank him, because he’s the person who brought me here to Spurs.
"In the end it depends on everyone that we pull in the same direction. I think that since Thomas [Frank] arrived here, they have started to take all those decisions to go in the same direction. And then when it’s like that, everything runs a lot more easily, right?
"The players know what the objectives are for the season, and we continue like this. We started to improve and we want another title this season."
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