Thomas Frank claims that Tottenham staff have said they have never seen Cristian Romero train as well as he is right now and the Dane wants his new captain to stay for the long term.
The new Spurs head coach named Romero as the man to replace Son Heung-min as the club's captain in a summer when the World Cup winner had been linked with a move away from north London, with Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone making his desire to sign his compatriot very clear in the public arena.
A move never materialised though and Romero immediately impressed his new boss Frank on the training pitches of Hotspur Way. With plenty of staff who had worked with the Argentine before, including defence coach Matt Wells, the Dane got plenty of positive reports on how the 27-year-old looked in comparison to the past.
"I would say I’ve worked with him now closely for more than five weeks, I’ve seen a very, very committed player who’s trained very well. The staff have said to me they’ve never seen him train that well," said Frank. "He’s in a very good place. I see a player that will want to lead the team and push the team."
Romero has just two years left on his contract at Spurs and while that does not concern Frank, he admits he wants the two-time Copa America winner to be around for the long-term and continue to grow as a leader.
"I think when you name a captain it’s because you think he’s the best that can help the team no matter what now and also in the future," he said. "It’s not really linked with the contract situation. Of course he’s a very good player so I want him to stay longer.
"I see a very big and very good player. What I like about him and why I have chosen him as captain is his leadership qualities on the pitch, there is a big respect for him from the players. Off the pitch as well he also sets the standards, but it’s fair to say, he’s 27 and there are a few older than 27.
"When I was 27 of course I thought I could do everything but I also found out that as a leader I am 1,000 per cent better now so he also needs to learn and become better and better so I will do my best to guide him."
Romero brings aggression to Tottenham and while it's something that his critics sometimes point to as being too much, his managers have always loved it and Frank is no different.
"I think the way his aggressivity is, is phenomenal. He is fantastic in the duel," he said. "When he gives that to the team, he can transform the team and give energy to the team so I think that’s extremely important."
Since Romero is clearly a player Frank has huge respect for, why did it take so long to appoint him as captain for the season ahead after Son had made it clear to the new head coach in their first conversation that he wanted to leave Spurs this summer?
"There are a couple of things, the captain before was Son. Just as a small detail - I would have picked Cuti no matter what [once Son left] - but he was still there. Also I know the players, but I don’t know them. So that was also part of it," he said.
Romero had his injury issues last season, playing in just 26 of Tottenham's 60 matches across all competitions, while his centre-back partner Micky van de Ven managed only 22 due to hamstring issues. Frank was asked whether he will manage the Netherlands international's minutes carefully, starting with Saturday's Premier League opener against Burnley coming just 48 hours after the team landed back in the UK from their UEFA Super Cup clash with PSG in Italy.
"This is the second game, I am convinced he is ready for tomorrow. I don’t think it’s a big shout that he will start tomorrow," he said. "That is something we will build and look very much into because I'm very aware of the injury challenges we had last year."
Frank seemed less positive about another key Spurs player, Dominic Solanke, starting against the Clarets this weekend.
"He is available for selection. Let’s see. Put it this way, he's shorter than some of the other players [in terms of pre-season fitness and minutes]," he said.
Saturday's match against Burnley will also see a protest before the game with fan group Change for Tottenham planning a gathering outside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at 1.30 pm ahead of the Premier League opener against the Clarets. Frank was asked about the planned event.
"Why are they protesting?" asked the head coach.
It was explained that the supporters group felt this summer had shown a lack of clear transfer strategy and ambition amid expensive ticket prices.
"Two things. The team needs the support of the fans, which as far as I have seen and heard and experienced in the past has been very good. That we need massively - it's a new season, a new beginning," he said. "I'm pretty sure the game will not be straightforward. I would love it to be easy - boom! job done, clear win - but we are going to face a Burnley team I have huge respect for so throughout the game we will need their backing.
"What I see internally I just see Daniel [Levy], Vinai [Venkatesham] and Johan [Lange] working night and day to do everything they can to strengthen the squad."
He added: "Without the fans we are nothing. We play for the fans. The fans are hugely important for us. Personally I am really, really looking forward to tomorrow and to lead the team in front of the fantastic fans. That’s what I’m actually looking forward to."
It was put to Frank that he would surely have wanted more than one big permanent signing through the door by now this summer in the shape of Mohammed Kudus.
"I don't think there is one head coach that doesn't want players in as early as possible but I also have been in the game long enough to know it is not that easy," said the new Spurs boss.
"I don't know how many times there were at Brentford - and a lot of people have praised how they do it - where I thought "OK, done!" and two days later it was not done. So it is not that easy."
Frank admitted that the challenges and eventual euphoria of last season at Tottenham had benefited him because he has inherited a tight-knit squad from Ange Postecoglou.
"What I have learned is that because of how the season turned out last season for various reasons, both the challenges and the success at the end, there is a big togetherness," he said. "They are tight, they are together. That's a foundation for more success and I think there is also a willingness to improve."
With newly-promoted Burnley coming to Tottenham in Saturday's season opener, so will begin the process of Frank having to switch his focus from being an underdog often at Brentford to being the side expected to win as Spurs and in convincing fashion as well.
"It's definitely something, of course, I'm aware of that we need to be dominant against a lot of teams in the Premier League. That's definitely in the plan," he said. "I think the last four teams we've played were Bayern Munich, PSG, Arsenal and Newcastle. To take the first three, all of them are probably among the favourites to win the Champions League.
"Slightly different games, and Newcastle are a very, very good team. Last year they finished fifth, higher than us. Different games, more even games, them slightly on top in terms of possession, maybe. There's a different game tomorrow.
"I'm completely aware of how we want to deal with it. I know it's a while ago, but the two years in the Championship before we got promoted we scored the most goals both seasons and were one of the best offensive teams. I've got a clear idea of how I want to do it and of course now it's up to me and the staff to implement that into the team."
This season will also bring the challenge of dealing with the Champions League and Premier League schedules with matches every three days, a mass of fixtures that Frank has not had to tackle while at Brentford since the play-off years in the Championship that brought long campaigns.
"Of course I'd love to have a few more days, but that's reality. It's also fair to say I've had short turnarounds many times before, so I'm convinced we'll find a plan for that," he said. "Of course extremely short turnarounds are a part of it. I think PSG are playing tomorrow night at 8pm. So I don't know, is there a difference between that? But no matter two days, three days, one day, four days, we'll be ready."
