Wayne Rooney says Tottenham Hotspur are now in a relegation fight after their poor Premier League form continued with a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United. The loss extended Spurs’ winless run in the league to seven matches and left them 15th in the table, six points above the relegation zone.
Tottenham finished 17th last season, a disappointing campaign that led to the sacking of Ange Postecoglou despite the club winning the Europa League. Rooney said on his show that, given their current form and position, it is realistic to say they are battling to avoid the drop.
He noted that clubs such as West Ham and Nottingham Forest are picking up results, which increases the pressure on Spurs as they look over their shoulders. Rooney stressed that Tottenham cannot ignore the danger they are in if results do not improve quickly.
The defeat at Old Trafford was made worse by the first half red card shown to captain Cristian Romero for a late challenge on Casemiro, his sixth sending off for Tottenham. Rooney felt the decision was slightly harsh but said it reflected Romero’s tendency to lose his composure.
Romero had already drawn attention in the days before the match with a social media post criticising the club’s situation, calling it disgraceful that only 11 players were fit for a recent 2-2 draw with Manchester City. Rooney said outspoken comments like that must be backed up with strong performances, which Romero has not consistently delivered.
He warned that such behaviour only increases the scrutiny on manager Thomas Frank, who took charge last summer after seven years at Brentford. Rooney expressed sympathy for Frank, saying the stress of the Tottenham job has visibly aged him and that the situation will be difficult to manage if results do not improve.
Rooney added that Tottenham need stability and discipline from their captain rather than frequent red cards and public criticism of the club. He said the club must find a way to turn their season around quickly if they want to escape a genuine battle against relegation.
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