Cristian Romero’s Instagram message lifts the lid on Tottenham tensions

Tottenham Hotspur’s turbulent season took another sharp turn this week when club captain Cristian Romero appeared to publicly criticise senior figures at the club in a now edited Instagram post. The Argentina defender’s comments landed at a delicate moment, with Spurs sliding down the Premier League table and frustration growing both inside and outside the dressing room.

After Thursday night’s dramatic 3-2 defeat away at Bournemouth, a result that left Tottenham 14th with just one win in their last six league matches, Romero took to social media with a message that quickly gathered attention. While he stopped short of naming individuals, the tone was unmistakable.

In the original version of the post, Romero suggested that “other people should be coming out to speak” and accused them of only appearing “when things are going well, to tell a few lies”. That particular line was later removed, but the revised message still carried a clear edge.

An edited apology, but the message remains

Romero deleted the initial post and replaced it with an almost identical statement, minus the reference to lies. Yet the underlying frustration remained firmly intact.

“Apologies to all fans of you who follow us everywhere, who are always there and will continue to be,” Romero wrote.

“We are responsible, there’s no doubt about that. But we will keep facing up to it and trying to turn the situation around, for ourselves and for the club.”

He then returned to the central theme that has raised eyebrows across north London.

“At times like this, it should be other people coming out to speak, but they don’t, as has been happening for several years now. They only show up when things are going well.”

Romero closed with a call for unity and work ethic, but the damage was already done. For a club captain to air such grievances publicly is rare, and it speaks to the depth of the unease currently surrounding Tottenham Hotspur.

Results, pressure and a fractious atmosphere

The backdrop to Romero’s comments is a bleak run of form that has tested patience across the fanbase. One win in six Premier League games has dragged Spurs into the bottom half, far removed from the ambitions set out at the start of the campaign.

Supporter unrest has been increasingly visible. During a goalless draw away at Brentford, chants of “boring, boring Tottenham” echoed around the stadium. Days later, boos greeted the team at full time following a 1-1 draw with Sunderland, underlining the growing disconnect between players and fans.

The defeat at Bournemouth brought those tensions into sharp focus. At the Vitality Stadium, tempers flared at full time as Micky van de Ven and Palhinha were seen exchanging words with travelling supporters. Pedro Porro also had to be calmed by goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario after becoming embroiled in a heated exchange.

These moments, while isolated, paint a picture of a squad feeling the strain, with emotions bubbling close to the surface.

Thomas Frank under scrutiny

The pressure is not limited to the pitch. Manager Thomas Frank has found himself at the centre of mounting criticism as results continue to slide. While many supporters initially backed his appointment, patience has worn thin amid a lack of attacking cohesion and repeated defensive lapses.

Frank’s situation was not helped by an unfortunate pre match moment at Bournemouth, where he was photographed holding a coffee cup emblazoned with Arsenal branding. While trivial in isolation, the image quickly circulated online and became a symbol, fairly or not, of a manager increasingly out of step with a frustrated fanbase.

Romero’s comments inevitably raise questions about the relationship between the playing squad, the coaching staff and the club’s hierarchy. When a captain feels compelled to suggest that senior figures are absent during difficult periods, it hints at structural issues rather than a simple dip in form.

A pattern of public frustration from Romero

This is not the first time Cristian Romero has used social media to express discontent with how Tottenham is run. The 27 year old, who has made 146 appearances for the club, has previously alluded to deeper problems behind the scenes.

In June, when former manager Ange Postecoglou was dismissed, Romero posted a tribute referencing “the many obstacles that always existed and always will exist”. That message was widely interpreted as a thinly veiled criticism of the club’s leadership and long term direction.

Earlier still, in December 2024, Romero openly criticised the board for what he felt was a lack of investment. While his commitment on the pitch has rarely been questioned, these repeated public interventions suggest a player who feels responsibility not just for results, but for calling out perceived shortcomings at the top.

Leadership, loyalty and the risk of division

There is a fine line between leadership and destabilisation. As captain, Romero’s willingness to front up and accept responsibility will resonate with many supporters. His insistence that players must “keep facing up to it” reflects an understanding of accountability that fans often demand.

However, public criticism of unnamed figures risks widening existing cracks. Football clubs thrive on clarity and unity, especially during difficult spells. When internal grievances spill into the public domain, they can quickly become a distraction, feeding speculation and undermining authority.

For Tottenham Hotspur, a club that has long wrestled with questions about ambition, investment and identity, Romero’s words strike a familiar chord. Supporters have heard similar sentiments before, often from managers or players who later departed.

What comes next for Tottenham?

The immediate focus remains on results. Spurs need points, confidence and a sense of direction to halt their slide and restore belief. Whether that comes through tactical adjustments, a renewed connection with supporters or clearer communication from the club’s hierarchy remains to be seen.

Romero’s message, edited or not, has ensured that attention is no longer solely on performances. It has reopened debates about leadership at Tottenham, both on the pitch and in the boardroom.

If those senior figures choose to respond publicly, as Romero appears to be urging, the coming weeks could prove pivotal. Silence may only deepen frustration. Engagement, transparency and alignment could yet steady the ship.

For now, one thing is clear. When a captain speaks this candidly, it is rarely without consequence.