ESPN

Thomas Frank has said that Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero apologised to his teammates after being sent off in the team's 2-0 defeat to Manchester United on Saturday.

The Argentine, who made headlines with an Instagram post for the second time in 2026 on Monday when he described the injury-hit Spurs team being left with only 11 available as "disgraceful" shortly after the transfer window closed.

Romero will miss Spurs' next four games due to the fact Saturday's red card was the second he has been shown this season. He will miss the north London derby on Feb. 22.

Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes gave United their fourth straight win under new boss Michael Carrick but it was Romero's 29th-minute red card for a reckless challenge on Casemiro that was the turning point in the game.

The defeat leaves Frank's Spurs team still searching for their first win in 2026. They are nine points above the relegation zone with 18th-placed West Ham able to close the gap when they face fellow strugglers Burnley later on Saturday.

"Cristian, I think first and foremost, I think there's no intention to do the follow through and make a red," Frank told Sky Sports. "So I think he clearly goes for the ball. Unfortunately, the way the rules is, it's then a red. Christian apologised to his teammates in the dressing room."

Mbeumo's opening goal arrived nine minutes after Romero's sending off and it appeared to be made easier by the space he found at the edge of the area due to Romero's absence on the pitch.

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Asked if Mbeumo's goal would have happened if Spurs still had 11 players on the pitch, Frank replied: "No, because that was the area they could explore."

Frank then paused before continuing: "It can always happen, of course. Of course, you can play 10 against 11, but of course that was the area that then got a little bit more exposed."

Tottenham matches Romero will miss

Man United vs. Spurs (7 Feb, 2026) Live Score  ESPN

Manchester United host Tottenham Hotspur with the two teams at the opposite ends of the momentum spectrum, and you can follow it all live with ESPN (LIVE right below this short preview).

United, having won three of three Premier League games under Michael Carrick will be looking to keep that 100% run going for the new head coach. A win would help solidify their place in the top four early into the weekend and put the pressure on Chelsea and Liverpool ahead of their games. A draw, or a loss, though, and it opens up the table for the chasing pack.

Spurs, meanwhile, are on a run of six Prem games without a win but a sensational comeback last weekend to grab a draw against Man City will have them raring to go, and course correct in what has been a disastrous domestic campaign. Thomas Frank has struggled to field a steady XI, with injuries wreaking havoc with his squad, but he will hope that they can rediscover their brilliant away form from early in the season. In fact, of their seven league wins, five have come away from the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

Recently, Man United have been a favourite opponent of Spurs' (they won 3-0 at Old Trafford last year and haven't been beaten in their last 8 matches vs United), but this is a very different Manchester United they will run into today.

On an emotionally charged afternoon at Old Trafford, with the game being played a day after the 68th anniversary of the Munich tragedy, who can hold their nerve? We'll find out soon enough.

Manchester United's revival under Michael Carrick rolled on against Tottenham with goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes piling more misery on Thomas Frank and Spurs.

United have been reborn since the short-term appointment of their former midfielder, whose honeymoon period continued as triumphs against Manchester City, Arsenal and Fulham were followed up on Saturday lunchtime.

Bryan Mbeumo scored from a well-worked corner shortly after Tottenham captain Romero saw red for a reckless first-half challenge on Casemiro, with Bruno Fernandes wrapping up a deserved 2-0 victory against Carrick's old club.

United's first win against Spurs since 2022 increased their stranglehold on fourth spot and means fan Frank Ilett is in line for a long-awaited trim should the rejuvenated Red Devils rack up a fifth successive win at West Ham on Tuesday.

Tottenham host Newcastle that night looking to end a seven-match wait for a Premier League win, but Destiny Udogie looks to have joined their lengthy injury list for a match skipper Romero will miss following his latest red card.

The Argentina international made headlines at the start of the week by claiming it was "disgraceful" Spurs only had 11 players available after he went off ill during last Sunday's 2-2 draw with Manchester City.

Quite what Romero, or indeed under-fire boss Thomas Frank, will have to say after incurring a four-match ban for his second red card of the season will be interesting.

Tottenham's raucous fans had audibly backed their captain -- and repeatedly reminded United of May's Europa League final result -- at the start of a game that saw the 68th anniversary of the Munich air disaster marked impeccably.

Mbeumo slammed narrowly over and Guglielmo Vicario denied a 30-yard effort from Casemiro as Carrick's unchanged hosts started brightly, before holding firm during a spell of Spurs supremacy.

United came closest to an opener after that, with Matheus Cunha curling a wonderful first-time effort narrowly wide before Fernandes sent a snapshot bobbling off target.

An intense, end-to-end encounter was threatening to come to life, only for Romero to catch Casemiro on the ankle and change the dynamics in the 29th minute.

Referee Michael Oliver showed Tottenham's captain a straight red and the reshuffled visitors fell behind nine minutes later from a smart set-piece routine.

Kobbie Mainoo ran from the near post and met a low Fernandes corner with a flick back for Mbeumo to sweep home through a crowd to Old Trafford's delight.

Vicario's outstanding reflexes prevented Casemiro scoring a close-range header before half-time, with Amad Diallo seeing a close-range goal ruled out for offside four minutes after the restart.

Lively Xavi Simons slammed narrowly wide as Spurs looked to reduce the deficit shortly after the incline on their uphill battle increased as Udogie limped off to be replaced by teenage debutant Souza.

United went for the jugular and piled on the pressure. Vicario produced impressive stops to deny Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot, before penalty appeals fell on deaf ears.

Cunha saw a goal ruled out for offside and Diallo was denied by a near post save by Vicario, who was unable to stop United adding a second in the 81st minute.

Dalot whipped over a fine cross that Fernandes managed to direct home in front of the Stretford End.

Michael Carrick finds himself up against Thomas Frank just five months on from interviewing the Tottenham Hotspur boss as Manchester United's head coach hunts a fourth win on the bounce.

The 44-year-old has enjoyed a dream start to his reign for the remainder of the campaign, with wins against Manchester City and Arsenal followed by last Sunday's thrilling 3-2 victory against Fulham.

Carrick's former club Spurs provide the next test on Saturday lunchtime, when the United boss will share the Old Trafford touchline with a coach he interviewed ahead of Frank's first Champions League game.

"Yeah, [life] certainly can change," he said looking back to the Amazon Prime interview in September. "I really enjoyed it, actually.

"We got on really well. It's the first time I've met him properly and we had a good chat just about general kind of football things.

"A little bit on processes and ideas, but he was really accommodating. I enjoyed it, so it will be good to see him again."

Frank joined Spurs last summer after impressing at Brentford but his position came under intense pressure during a poor start to 2026.

But there has been a slight uptick in performance of late, with last weekend's 2-2 draw at home to City part of a four-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

"They certainly bring a challenge," Carrick said. "I think you can see especially the way they finished the game the other day.

"They've had players injured and ins and outs, and a lot of changes to the team, which makes things a lot more challenging, a lot more difficult from their perspective. But they're getting players back.

"They've got really good attackers that look to stretch the backline and play forward and attack the box an awful lot. It's something we've certainly got to be aware of.

"A slightly different game to maybe what we have played over recent weeks in some ways, but we're looking forward to it.

"We're in a good place and the boys have worked well again this week. Again, feet on the ground, let's not get carried away with what has gone on. It's about what's next again, so a big challenge ahead but we're looking forward to it."

Tottenham won all four meetings against United last season, including May's key, if drab, Europa League final encounter in Bilbao.

Carrick hopes to end that run when the former midfielder takes on a side he spent two seasons with before moving to Old Trafford in an £18.6 million ($297M) deal back in 2006.

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Asked when he fell in love with United, the head coach said: "It was pretty instant.

"I've got really fond memories of Tottenham and being at the club. I was there for only a short time when you look back, but I really enjoyed it.

"Good team, Martin Jol was the manager and there was a lot of things I learned at the club in that short period of time.

"But, I've said it enough times, coming here was a jump and a big jump at the time. I certainly felt that pretty quickly and then I think once you step inside this place as a footballer, it turns you.

"So, pretty much from the first day walking into the dressing room and meeting the manager, from then on in that was me."

Thomas Frank has confirmed Cristian Romero remains Tottenham Hotspur captain, but has "no idea" whether he will still be at the club next season.

Romero made headlines with an Instagram post for the second time in 2026 on Monday when he described it as "disgraceful" that his teammates were left with only 11 available players after he was forced off ill during Sunday's 2-2 Premier League draw at home to Manchester City.

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Whilst Romero's comments are open to interpretation, they followed his strongly worded social media remarks about a lack of communication from key figures at the club in January, but Frank revealed the defender is still captain of the club.

The Spurs boss would not confirm if the Argentina international had been fined or disciplined on Thursday and also refused to give guarantees over Romero's long-term future despite the 27-year-old signing a new deal in August.

Asked if he expected Romero to be at the club next season, Frank said: "That's a question I have no idea about.

"Right now he is the captain, he has a long-term contract and we signed a new contract with him."

The social-media post was liked by Spurs players Xavi Simons, Conor Gallagher and Dominic Solanke, but Frank pushed back at suggestions the squad were in revolt due to the current injury crisis.

Frank added: "It's all contextual. Right now we have a few injuries. Of course injuries don't help but it's part of football.

"I think it's one person speaking up. We don't know if he speaks on behalf of all the players. That's your perception, so we don't know that.

"Secondly, we don't know if that's what he thinks. We can read into a text. I think we have a team and squad to compete but of course we have a few injuries that doesn't help us."

Even though Tottenham have suffered injuries to nine players in 2026, the club were not active on the final day of the winter transfer window.

"In the summer we made two good signings in Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus and a good loan in João Palhinha so it's not as though we don't want to loan players to strengthen the squad," Frank pointed out.

"It was a big signing with Conor Gallagher. I know the club is very ambitious."

Romero's latest social-media post followed January's remarks and last summer when in a tribute to Frank's predecessor Ange Postecoglou, the centre-back referenced "many obstacles that always existed and always will exist" on Instagram.

Put to Frank in general terms whether it matters if an employee is unhappy, as long as they perform, he acknowledged: "I think if you are generalising, as long as everyone does their job, then it is fair enough.

"I am pretty sure there are also some players who don't think I am the best bloke or whatever it is, but as long as they work hard and do everything they can on the pitch then I am happy.

"There is always a line you can't cross or can't cross too many times. I am not talking about the social posting. No matter who you are, what kind of job you do, we all know when we have stepped too far and it's problems."

Manchester United are all set to host Tottenham Hotspur on an emotionally charged afternoon at Old Trafford on Saturday. United will be looking to continue building on their sensational start to life under Michael Carrick and make it four wins in four. Spurs, meanwhile, will be looking to use a superb second half display against Manchester City to resuscitate their injury-hit domestic season, and what better way to do it than deliver a statement performance (and result) against an in-form Manchester United?

Here's everything you need to know about the match:

How to watch

The match will be broadcast on TNT Sports 1 in the UK, NBC in the U.S., Jio Hotstar in India and Stan Sport in Australia. You can also follow ESPN's live updates here.

Key Details

Kick-off time: Saturday, Feb. 7 at 12.30 p.m. GMT (7.30 a.m. ET; 6 p.m. IST and 11.30 p.m. AEDT)

Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester

Referee: Michael Oliver

VAR: Paul Tierney

Injury News

Manchester United

Matthijs de Ligt, D: DOUBT, back

Mason Mount, M: OUT, knock

Patrick Dorgu, D/M: OUT, hamstring

Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur

Dejan Kulusevski, M: OUT, knee

Ben Davies, D: OUT, ankle

Kevin Danso, D: OUT, toe

Cristian Romero, D: DOUBT, illness

Pedro Porro, D, OUT, thigh

Micky van de Ven, D: DOUBT, knock

James Maddison, M: OUT, ACL

Lucas Bergvall: M: OUT, leg

Rodrigo Bentancur, M: OUT, hamstring

Mohammed Kudus, F: OUT, muscle

Richarlison, F: OUT, hamstring

Talking Points

United and the emotion of February 6

United host Spurs a day after the 68th anniversary of the Munich disaster. The club will, of course, honour the Busby Babes and all those who were on that ill-fated flight pre-match, and playing well on this kind of occasion is something that could drive this team and their head coach closer to their fans.

If they can channel the deep emotion that will be sweeping across Old Trafford on Saturday and set out to play "the Matt Busby Way" -- full of attacking intent and great wing play and that almost stubborn dedication to entertain -- that would be well received as the best tribute. Channel it right, and a win's there for the taking against struggling opposition, a win that would keep them in the top four going out of another weekend. And for Carrick it will lend more credence to calls to make his appointment permanent in the summer.

Let it overawe them, allow Spurs to dominate the game, and the doubts and cracks that are never too far away in this post-Ferguson era could well rise up again from all corners. With the top four (or five) race as tight as it is, that's something United can ill afford happening.

Solanke and Simons give Frank hope

Dominic Solanke's goals and Xavi Simons' guile gave Thomas Frank arguably his best 45 minutes as Spurs manager last weekend, when they came from behind to draw Man City 2-2. Solanke, sidelined for so long with serious injury issues, has been a much-needed boost for Frank's side, who've lacked sharpness up top for vast swathes of this season. That, plus his record against United -- he has scored five goals in his last five appearances against Manchester United in all comps -- will stand Spurs in good stead come Saturday.

More important, though, will be Simons. Playing in a free floating #10 role once the formation shifted from a disastrous three-at-the-back to a 4-2-3-1 in that second half against City, Simons ran the game with a combination of nifty passing and intelligent positioning. With the form that Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo are in, he'll find those pockets much harder to find at Old Trafford, but if he can -- and draw out either Harry Maguire or Lisandro Martínez -- Solanke could well feast ahead of him.

Will Carrick mix things up with Sesko?

The only change Michael Carrick has made to his United XIs over his first three games back has been bringing in Matheus Cunha for the injured Patrick Dorgu last weekend. There is no real reason for Carrick to change up something that's clearly working -- the interplay between the forward line of Amad, Bryan Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes and Cunha/Dorgu has been a joy to watch, but Benjamin Sesko made a real case for starting on Saturday with his cameo, and winner, against Fulham. It was the big Slovenian's fourth goal in four games, and the finish last weekend smacked off a forward with confidence coursing through him.

In his (very) short stint so far, Carrick has shown an ability to keep his attacking players happy even if they start on the bench, but Sesko's physicality and aerial threat provide an alternative that he could well be tempted to unleash from the off.

Can Spurs exploit holes highlighted by Fulham?

As solid as United have been under Carrick, Fulham stood toe-to-toe with them for parts of their last match, especially late in the second half. They did this by having runners in the channels, trying to take up pockets between the central midfielders and the centre-backs and not panicking under the United high press. Bypassing that first layer often left Fulham with favourable numbers in attack.

If Spurs can do that, get Simons on the ball and feed Solanke quickly, they could find some joy. Against Fulham, United conceded 1.94 xG, much more than they did against Arsenal (0.7xG) and Man City (0.45 xG) and theirs is the blueprint Thomas Frank will be looking to take inspiration from.

What do the numbers say?

Tottenham really like playing Man United these days. They've not lost to United in their last six Prem games (W3 D3), and indeed last eight games across all competitions (W5 D3). The last time United went that long without a win in just league competition was between 1914 and 1921. That eight game unbeaten run across all comps, meanwhile, is their longest ever run without defeat for Spurs against United.

Having said that, Spurs are really struggling in the league right now. They've not won any of their last six games (D4 L2)... however they travel to Old Trafford with hope. Five of their seven league wins this season have come away from home.

Michael Carrick, meanwhile, has won all three of his matches since returning as United manager. The last time United won four in a row was in Feb '24, under Erik Ten Hag.

Tottenham captain Cristian Romero has described the squad's lack of depth as "disgraceful" in another thinly-veiled criticism of the club.

Romero was forced off during Spurs' battling 2-2 draw at home to Manchester City with an illness, which also affected the Argentina international in the midweek win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

The withdrawal of Romero took Tottenham's list of absentees well beyond double figures in parallels to last season under Ange Postecoglou, who battled with an enormous injury crisis for months and clinched Europa League glory but also presided over a 17th-placed finish in the Premier League.

It cost Postecoglou his job but it has been a similar story for replacement Thomas Frank, who has struggled without a number of key personnel all season and Spurs have won just two of their last 15 games in the Premier League to increase fears of a potential relegation battle.

Even though Tottenham impressively brought in Conor Gallagher in a £35 million ($48m) move from Atletico Madrid midway through January, they sold last season's leading scorer Brennan Johnson and have lost nine players to injury since the turn of the year to further frustrate a disgruntled fanbase.

Moments after the winter transfer deadline closed, captain Romero said on Instagram: "Great effort from all my teammates yesterday, they were incredible.

"I wanted to be available to help them even though I wasn't feeling well, especially since we only had 11 players available -- unbelievable but true and disgraceful.

"We'll keep showing up and taking responsibility to turn this around, working hard and staying together. All that's left is to thank all of you for being there and for always supporting us, the fans."

Spurs did later announce the loan signing of Hearts teenager James Wilson with the option to make the move permanent, but the forward is a player for the Under-21 squad.

It still proved to be a quiet deadline day at Tottenham after the club resisted the temptation to chase short-term signings, Press Association understands.

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PA also believe Spurs' desire in the winter transfer window was to bring forward summer targets, which resulted in a move for Andy Robertson which ultimately collapsed.

It was a similar story for the successful pursuits of Gallagher and Brazilian left-back Souza, but the club were eager to remain disciplined and stick with a strategic strategy of signing long-term targets.

Significant funds were available from majority shareholders ENIC, PA understands, and this was highlighted in the failed bid to sign Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth.

Yet after Semenyo decided to join Manchester City, Tottenham were comfortable to wait until the summer to land key targets.

Jamie Carragher has come to the defence of Thomas Frank, saying the Tottenham Hotspur manager has been deprived of a number of important players during a difficult first season in charge.

Spurs, who held Manchester City to a 2-2 draw on Sunday thanks in large part to Dominic Solanke's sensational scorpion kick, are currently 14th in the Premier League table.

Of his first 24 league games in north London, Frank has presided over eight draws and nine defeats.

Carragher, speaking to Sky Sports, pointed to the absence of players like Solanke during Spurs' poor run. The striker has missed significant time since undergoing ankle surgery in September.

Currently sidelined for Spurs are the likes of James Maddison -- still recovering from a torn ACL -- Rodrigo Bentancur, Richarlison, Mohammed Kudus, Ben Davies and Lucas Bergvall.

"It's great for Solanke," Carragher said of the striker's acrobatic equaliser. "And also, it's probably great for Thomas Frank, because he's looking at that thinking and saying to his board, and maybe his own supporters, 'I've been without a lot of top players this season.'

"That is fact. There's no doubt about that.

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"There is still obviously a debate, and I understand the frustration of Spurs supporters around the style of football, how they play, how slow first halves are, how poor they are at home. I get all of that.

"I think he [Frank] might be speaking to the people above him, when he gets those players back, 'judge me then.'"

Man City's lingering defensive holes exposed by Tottenham

Signing Marc Guéhi midway through the season was a coup for Manchester City -- but it hasn't solved everything.

Guardiola's best teams would go up two goals and then squeeze the life out of the game. This version of City seems unable to exert the same level of control.

The momentum shift after halftime was drastic, and City couldn't cope. Without Donnarumma in goal they would have lost the match. They can't blame the lapse on Rodri's absence either, although the former Ballon d'Or winner is clearly still learning what his body can and can't do after suffering a serious knee injury.

From City's point of view, both Tottenham goals were avoidable. Solanke's second was a wonderfully creative finish, but Nico González -- freshly on as a substitute -- won't want to see a replay of his role in the buildup.

You could argue this has been coming. City kept clean sheets against Wolves and Galatasaray last week, but both teams had good spells in the second half when they might have scored.

Unlike the other two, Tottenham were able to take advantage of their period on the front foot. -- Dawson

Spurs silence doubters with will to try for the win

This fixture inevitably evokes memories of Tottenham's 2023-24 season when Man City came to town needing a win to stay clear in the title race. Then-Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou admitted his surprise at some home fans appearing to be content their side lost that day as it meant north London rivals Arsenal would be denied a first league title since 2004.

The dynamic was different this time -- City arrived here seven points behind Arsenal -- but it was once again fair to ask how many inside the ground would have been quietly content with a defeat here. There was a notable anodyne atmosphere as a result during a first half City utterly dominated. Boos rang out at halftime but the stadium was more a picture of apathy than anger as the fans watched yet another disappointing home performance.

And yet, the second half could not have been more different. Nobody could question the intent of Spurs' players, who were unrecognizable in the second half and could have even won it late on.

There is a long way to go in the title race -- that game in 2024 came in mid-May -- and so this result won't have felt as decisive to those Spurs fans fearing Arsenal's big day is coming. But Tottenham could easily have folded here, but instead they fought back -- and did their bitterest rivals a precious favor. -- Olley

Cherki proving his addition at Man City was right on target

There were doubts about Rayan Cherki when he arrived from Lyon in the summer. There were questions about his attitude and whether he could fit into Guardiola's system.

It's only February and most of those have been answered.

You can tell in the way Guardiola interacts with him that he's a player who delights and frustrates the City boss in equal measure. He has said before that he wants the Frenchman to work harder out of possession and to be as good at the simple things as he is at the tricks and flicks.

What's not in question, though, is Cherki's output. He's one of only five players from Europe's top five leagues to register more than 10 goals and more than 10 assists since the start of the FIFA Club World Cup. The others are Michael Olise, Lamine Yamal, Fermín López and Luis Díaz. It's not bad company to keep.

Not even a year into his City career, Guardiola will believe he can get much more out of Cherki, but already the £40 million deal to bring him in looks like an absolute steal. -- Dawson