25 July 2023 , 08:26
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Tottenham defender Cristian Romero has opened up about the end of Antonio Conte's tumultuous stint in charge, admitting there "was a divide between the players and the coach".
Romero initially joined Spurs on loan in 2021 before the move was made permanent last summer for a fee of £42.5m. Having impressed in his initial loan spell, expectations were high for Romero last season but both he and Tottenham fell short as they finished a disappointing eighth in the Premier League.
Romero also struggled with a series of injury problems, but was able to feature in every single World Cup game as he helped Argentina win the tournament last December. And it was after he returned to Spurs that he says the rift between Conte and the squad became evident.
"After winning the World Cup, I came to Tottenham and the group was a little separated from the manager, but I feel responsible for the poor season we had," he told Football.London. "I'm not happy that the season ended in that way and I'm readying myself to repay all of the trust that the club put in me and I'll be working to give my best.
"The new manager has brought us renewed hope, the group is looking great right now and we'll try to have a great season to propel Tottenham as high as possible. Nothing changed with regard to my motivation. It was always the same.
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"It was just that they were different circumstances. When I came to the club the group were somewhat separate from the staff. This is very difficult. My first match [back] was Spurs vs Villa at home. That's where it all started.
"We won one game, then we'd lose two and when things are divided and not everyone is pulling in the same direction; coaches, players, not pulling in the same direction, it becomes very difficult, but obviously, as I said before, I'm the first to take responsibility for the poor season we had.
"These things that happened are in the past, we have to use it as an example so we don't do it again and this season we have to try to do things in the right way so we can ensure the club is as successful as possible."
Tottenham defender Cristian Romero and former boss Antonio Conte (Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)Mirror Football is now on Threads!
Romero also touched on the impending exit of Spurs captain Hugo Lloris, who he is close friends with and drove to training, admitting it would be a shame if the Frenchman's final game in a Tottenham shirt is their humiliating 6-1 loss to Newcastle.
"I think before [the Newcastle loss] the group were already in a bad way and as I said, there was a divide between the players and the coach and in a competition like the Premier League, if you're not all pulling in the same direction, it's really tough and you saw that, not just against Newcastle but in the Liverpool game too," he added.
"In the first 20 minutes they put three past us. Against Manchester United, they were 2-0 up in the first half. I'm not happy at all [that Lloris' last game could be the Newcastle loss] because Hugo is a great guy and he's given a great deal to the club. I think he deserves the very best.
"I wish the best for him and his family. Naturally I'll miss him a great deal [if he goes] because he was a really important person for me when I arrived at the club. He always helped me out and he still helps me now. So, I'm going to miss him dearly of course if he leaves, but I wish him and his family well for the future."