Wayne Rooney believes Tottenham Hotspur are firmly embroiled in a relegation battle after their struggles continued with a 2-0 defeat by Manchester United.
The loss at Old Trafford extended Spurs’ winless Premier League run to seven matches and left Thomas Frank’s side 15th in the table, only six points clear of the bottom three. Having narrowly avoided relegation last season despite Europa League success, Tottenham are again looking anxiously over their shoulders.
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Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the former England captain said Spurs’ current form leaves little room for comfort. With teams around them such as West Ham and Nottingham Forest picking up points, Rooney warned that Tottenham cannot ignore the danger they are in.
The match was further defined by captain Cristian Romero’s first-half red card for a late challenge on Casemiro, his sixth dismissal for the club. Rooney felt the decision was harsh but suggested it reflected a wider issue with Romero’s discipline and leadership.
Romero’s sending-off came days after a public outburst on social media criticising the club’s lack of squad depth, something Rooney believes has only increased pressure on head coach Thomas Frank. While expressing sympathy for the former Brentford manager, Rooney stressed that vocal leaders must back up their words with performances.
GFN | Finn Entwistle