Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat to Ipswich followed by a 4-0 win over Manchester City personified Ange Postecoglou’s time as Tottenham manager. Imposing attacking displays have gone hand in hand with intriguing, and often poor, defensive high-lines.
This mix leaves them sixth in the Premier League, but they are only four points off second-placed Manchester City.
As Premier League injuries mount up, City do not look the same side as of late, but that does not take away from a stellar Spurs performance, especially as they were missing first choice centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky Van de Ven.
Is Cristian Romero injured this weekend?
No side has scored more goals in the league this season than Spurs, and they have also conceded the joint third-least number of goals, despite only keeping three clean sheets.
Argentinian centre-back Romero is key to the way Spurs’ play, offering ball-playing ability and a serious threat at set pieces.
Romero has played 11 of Spurs’ 12 league games this season, missing the Manchester City match after suffering an injury blow while on international break. Romero had been substituted off against Aston Villa with an injury issue, but returned in time to play 90 minutes in Spurs’ 2-1 defeat to Ipswich.
This injury seems to have flared up in Argentina’s World Cup Qualifier against Paraguay, with Ange Postecoglou confirming prior to the Manchester City match that Romero would not be available.
Postecoglou, who ranked at no.36 in FourFourTwo's list of the best managers in the world right now, said: “Romero won't be right for tomorrow's game.
“We're hoping he'll be right for next week.”
Spurs face Roma in the Europa League this Thursday and it seems unlikely that Romero will return then, given Ben Davies and Radu Dragusin’s impressive performance against Manchester City.
However, it is likely that Romero will play against Fulham, when Spurs return to Premier League action on Sunday.
