Tottenham's Cristian Romero And Micky Van De Ven Unavailable For Europa League Match Against Rangers

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou confirmed that defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven will miss the Europa League match against Rangers. Both players returned from injuries during Tottenham's 4-3 loss to Chelsea but couldn't finish the game. Romero left after 15 minutes, while Van de Ven was substituted in the 79th minute. Their absence is a significant blow for Thursday's crucial Europa League fixture.

Postecoglou expressed concern over the defensive situation, noting that both players' setbacks are challenging. "Not great news about Cristian and Micky unfortunately," he stated. Their unavailability affects upcoming matches, especially with Ben also out. This situation presents a tough challenge but also an opportunity to achieve something remarkable despite the odds.

Tottenham's season under Postecoglou has been inconsistent, with the team currently sitting 11th in the Premier League standings after their defeat to Chelsea. The loss marked the 11th time Tottenham has lost a top-flight game after leading by two or more goals, which is at least four more such defeats than any other team in competition history.

Romero suggested that insufficient investment in the squad has led to poor form due to a lack of cover for injured players. Postecoglou addressed this by saying, "He realises that a lot of what he said was good, but some wasn't the right way of dealing with it." He added that he spoke with Romero, who apologised for his comments.

Postecoglou emphasised that while Romero's concerns show he cares about the team, there are appropriate ways to express them. "There's a way to do it and this wasn't it," Postecoglou remarked. The manager prefers not to criticise players publicly and believes internal discussions are more effective.

The upcoming Europa League clash against Rangers is crucial for Tottenham as they aim to overcome recent challenges and improve their standing in European competitions. Despite current difficulties, Postecoglou remains hopeful that his team can rise above these obstacles and deliver strong performances in future matches.