Alderweireld slams Spurs defensive duo Romero and Van de Ven
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Former Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld believes the club's "big players" are not good enough, highlighting the inconsistency of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.
Spurs are currently in the Premier League relegation zone, two points off safety with six games to go.
Tottenham are the only Premier League side without a win in 2026, winning none of their 14 games (D5 L9).
It is the second-longest winless league run in their history, only having a longer stretch without a victory between December 1934 and April 1935 (16 games).
Both Romero and Van de Ven have missed games during this run due to suspension, while the Argentina centre-back is reportedly out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Since joining Spurs ahead of the 2021-22 season, Romero has received the most red cards (four) and second-most yellow cards (36) among all defenders in the Premier League.
Alderweireld claimed Romero's rash decision-making is costing Spurs, but he also insisted their quality as a team is not at the level required.
"I think you need to start looking at pure quality," Alderweireld told ESPN NL.
"What do big players do? What do quality players do? That is to be decisive at important moments, achieve your level. And that has not been happening all season.
Behind the scenes at training as we prepare for Brighton pic.twitter.com/3EblhLAWZ0
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"Players who were acquired for a lot of money but who nevertheless don't deliver, and not in just one or two matches or a period, but throughout the whole season.
"You just have to conclude that they are not good enough in terms of quality.
"I look at Romero, I look at Van de Ven. They just aren't reaching their level. Again, not for a period, but actually for an entire season.
"Then I also look at Romero, who gets red cards too often, doesn't make the right decisions and therefore lets his team down."
Spurs face Brighton on Saturday, with Roberto De Zerbi hoping to defeat his former side after losing 1-0 to Sunderland in his first game in charge.
