Team news ahead of Burnley - Romero to miss out again
Fri 13 May 2022, 16:52|Tottenham Hotspur
Antonio Conte has confirmed that Cristian Romero is out of Sunday’s final home match of the season against Burnley (12pm UK).
The no-nonsense defender was omitted from the matchday squad against Arsenal on Thursday night after what Antonio described as “a hit on his hip in the game against Liverpool.”
While the Head Coach didn’t seem hopeful over the centre-back’s chances of playing again this season in the wake of our excellent victory against the Gunners, he told Spurs TV after training on Friday that ‘Cuti’ was still determined to be fit as soon as possible.
“The situation is the same as before the game against Arsenal – Cuti is trying in his mind to recover for the last game against Norwich but honestly, we don’t know (if he will be available),” Antonio said.
“For sure, for the game against Burnley, he’s not available, but I was very happy for Davinson Sanchez’s performance (against Arsenal). We trust in him, we trust in the team, now we have good confidence and belief and we have to put this onto the pitch on Sunday together with our fans.”
Antonio’s latest comments underlined what he said in his post-match interview on Spurs TV on Thursday, when he explained: “Cristian received a hit on his hip in the game against Liverpool, at the end. Honestly, we didn’t think it was a serious problem. Instead, the problem is not serious, but I think he has not got the possibility to recover for these last two games.
“But, I want to also say that Davinson Sanchez, who played his last game in the starting XI maybe two-and-a-half months ago, he worked a lot, worked very well and to see him have this performance makes me and my staff very happy. When we have this type of player like Sanchez, like Joe Rodon – reliable players, players who when they don’t play, they stay and work very hard – the coach and the staff are all very happy.”
Romero joins Sergio Reguilon, Japhet Tanganga, Oliver Skipp and Matt Doherty on the sidelines for Sunday’s crucial clash at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.