Frank looking for more consistency from captain Romero and his squad ahead of Burnley

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Frank looking for more consistency from captain Romero and his squad ahead of Burnley  15/08/2025  Tottenham Hotspurs Way Training Centre, London, UK

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00:00Phenomenal player when he's at his best, particularly in the big games.

00:04I was wondering, do you hope that maybe being captain will sort of bring out a bit more consistency in his game as well?

00:10Because sometimes he can be a bit up and down.

00:13Yeah, of course I've looked at Romeo from the outside.

00:19So what you say there, I haven't noticed as much.

00:24I know I see a very big and good player, but a very good player.

00:29What I like about his, why I chose him as a captain, I think his leadership qualities when he steps on the pitch.

00:40There's a big respect around him from the players, off the pitch as well.

00:46He also sets the standards.

00:49And then I think it's fair to say, no matter what they are there, he's 27 I think.

00:55There's a few probably a bit older than 27.

01:00So even myself, when I look back at myself at 27 years old, of course I thought I could do everything.

01:05But I also found out that as a leader, I'm 1000% better now.

01:10So he also needs to learn and become better and better and I'll do my best to guide him.

01:16Obviously his aggression is sort of being part of this game.

01:19I guess he has that sort of mentality, that sort of tenacity.

01:23I mean is that something you want the team to pick up on as well from him?

01:27Yeah, I think the way his aggressivity is phenomenal.

01:31He's fantastic in these duels.

01:33When he gives that to the team, I think it can transform the team and give energy to the team.

01:39So I think that's extremely important.

01:41Why did you wait a little bit more time to make that decision?

01:44Did you sort of want to talk to him about it?

01:46Yeah, I also think that there's a couple of things.

01:49The captain before was Son.

01:51So just as small details, I would have picked Coochie no matter what.

01:56But he was still there, so also I know the players but I don't know them.

02:02So that was also a part of it.

02:23So this is the second game.

02:25I'm convinced he's ready for tomorrow.

02:29And I don't think it will be a big shock, but he will start tomorrow.

02:34That is something we will build and look very much into.

02:40Because of course I'm aware of the injury challenge that was last year.

02:44And Solanke?

02:45Is he in French?

02:46He's available for selection, yeah.

02:48But not quite short.

02:49He'll have to start maybe.

02:50Let's see.

02:51But let me put it this way, he's shorter than some of the other players.

02:58Thanks.

02:59During your time at Remington, you've been very good at kind of punching upwards.

03:03The City, Liverpool, Arsenal, United, et cetera.

03:06And again, I spoke through that again on Wednesday against PSG.

03:10I suppose naturally the biggest question around you as a coach,

03:13because we haven't seen it in Premier League so far,

03:15is whether you can go into the matches as kind of the stronger side

03:19and kind of take care of the challenges like Premier League on the weekend.

03:23Are you seeing that kind of, are you feeling like you're building towards that so far?

03:28It's definitely something, of course, I'm aware of that we need to be dominant against a lot of teams in the Premier League.

03:37That's definitely the aim and the plan.

03:39I think the four teams we played, so the last four teams we played was Bayern Munich, PSG and Arsenal.

03:47And of course Newcastle, who take the first three, all of them probably among the favourites to win the Champions League title.

03:52So slightly, slightly different, different games and Newcastle a very, very good team.

03:57The last, they finished fifth, fourth, fifth, I can't remember, whatever, but high, higher than us.

04:04So the different games, you know, more, more even games or slightly, slightly on top in terms of possession maybe.

04:13This is a different game tomorrow. I'm completely aware of how we want to, we want to deal with it.

04:19I know it's a bit a while ago, but the two years in the Championships before we got promoted,

04:27we scored the most goals both seasons and were one of the best offensive teams.

04:31So I got a clear idea of how I want to do it.

04:33And of course, now it's up to me and the staff to implement that into the team.

04:38I suppose during your time at practice, naturally, you were kind of given more time, I suppose week to week,

04:44because you didn't have to, obviously, the Cups and stuff, but not having to contend with the Champions League.

04:48And a club like Spurs put so much emphasis on the Champions League as it does the Premier League.

04:53I suppose then on Wednesday as well, as an example, you kind of fielding almost like a bespoke tactical plan to play against PSG,

04:59something that might have challenges kind of doing that frequently with so much pressure.

05:05How are you kind of contending with that?

05:07Yeah, of course, I would love to have a few more days, but that's reality.

05:12I also think it's fair to say that quite a few times we have had short turnarounds many times before,

05:19so I'm convinced we'll find a plan for that.

05:24Of course, it's an extremely short turnaround, but that's part of it that we do that sometimes.

05:30against PSG, they're playing tomorrow night at 8 o'clock, so I don't know if there's a difference between that,

05:35but no matter if you have two days, three days, one day, four days, we'll be ready.

05:42The three-man midfield on Wednesdays sort of worked really well against PSG.

05:47Is that a midfield in terms of, I guess, the make-up of it that can work in games against Burnley,

05:53or are these sort of games where the absence of Madsen and Kuliszewski, those gaps become more apparent?

05:59I think I really like the performance from all three midfielders. I thought they did very well, as you said.

06:07I think I will also, depending on the games, change a bit if I think it's the right thing to do,

06:17to get, let's say, more offensive, more defensive players on the pitch, or players with different profiles that can help.

06:22And, of course, I think Kuliszewski and Madsen are two exceptionally good players that have that extra bit of creativity

06:31and decisive moments in them, and I would love them to be available for tomorrow, but they're not.

06:39We'll have Solution ready, and we'll have a plan for that.

06:42And in the summer, when the decision was made over Andrew's future, there was a lot of talk about how popular he was with the squad,

06:47what impact generally of him could have.

06:50The performances so early, sort of in your reign, like Wednesday, show that you already have that buy-in from the players,

06:55and I guess, were you a bit surprised with how well they adapted to a new system that quickly?

07:00That's a good reason.

07:07In put it this way, I'm very happy that they performed well, and they took on board the ideas.

07:12I think it's a very good group of players. I think it's a good group of people.

07:17They want to compete, they want to win.

07:20They have a great togetherness in the group, which I'm very happy with, and they want to fight for each other.

07:28And last one, we also saw Kevin dance those long throws, and what a weapon that could be.

07:33Did the auditions you had earlier in the summer sort of throw up other people who can play that role,

07:38or is that sort of going to be something we only see when he ends on the side?

07:41Let's see, but the plan with that, let's say, throw-in audition was definitely very, very big focus on the PSG game.

07:53I already knew back then that I would do that against PSG.

07:57So that was an early plan.

08:01You know, it's a weapon, so I think in any game you go into, you need to have as many weapons as possible to try to score a goal.

08:09John.

08:10John.

08:11Hi.

08:12You seem to have inherited a strange situation where there's going to be a fan protest as well.

08:21Why are they protesting?

08:22I think it's because there's only one sign.

08:36That's a good question.

08:37Yeah.

08:38Yeah.

08:39Yeah.

08:40Have you got a message?

08:43Good question.

08:46Two things.

08:49One, we need the support of the fans, of course.

08:53The team needs the support of the fans, which is, as far as I have seen and heard and experienced in the past, been very good.

09:00They always support and back the team.

09:02So that we need massively tomorrow.

09:05It's a new season.

09:06It's a new beginning.

09:07I'm pretty sure the game tomorrow will not be straightforward.

09:13I would love it just to be easy, you know, boom, done, job done, clear win.

09:18But we're going to face a Burnley team.

09:20I have hugely respect for Scott Parker, his staff and everyone, what they do there.

09:26So throughout the game we need the backing.

09:29What I see internally, I just see Daniel and Vinay and Johan working night and day to do everything they can to strengthen the squad.

09:38Did you want more than one sign before the season starts?

09:42I think if we want to strengthen the team, I don't think there's one head coach that don't want the players in as early as possible.

09:52But I also hope in the game long enough, it's not that easy.

09:56Even, I don't know how many times in Brentford where I've been there and I think a lot of people have praised how they've done it.

10:06Where I thought, okay, done.

10:09And then two days later, no, not done.

10:11So it's not that easy.

10:13What was your perception of the squad before you came?

10:17What have you learned the most when working with this squad?

10:25I think what I learned is that, again, I think they had a very, because of how the season turned out last year for various reasons, both the challenges and the success in the end.

10:44There's a big, big togetherness, they're tied together.

10:48I think that's a foundation for more success.

10:53And I think the willingness to want to improve.

10:56Jacob?

10:57Just to follow up on the fans, there were points last season where it got quite toxic during the inside the stadium,

11:07issues with the board, when the team was struggling with the sort of bubbling into the stadium.

11:14Would you prefer it if that doesn't become the case again this year for the fans, if they have to consider the board to keep that to them outside?

11:25I think we, without the fans, we're nothing.

11:30We, you know, we play for the fans.

11:33The plans of the fans are hugely important for us.

11:37Personally, I'm really, really looking forward to the game tomorrow and to lead the team that in front of the fantastic Tottenham fans.

11:46So that's actually what I'm looking forward to.

11:49That's another question I think I'd like to think a little bit more about before I have a qualified answer for that.

11:55On Romero, there have been questions, a lot of stories about whether or not he's going to stay.

12:00A lot of stories linking in with other clubs.

12:02Accusations as well, last season at the point that maybe he was more committed to Argentina than he was to Tottenham.

12:10In giving him the capital, would you hope that that would put any of those doubts?

12:17I would say I've worked with him now closely for a little bit more than five weeks.

12:23I've seen a very, very committed player that trained very well.

12:27Staff members have said to me that, you know, I've never seen him trained that well.

12:33So he's in a very good place.

12:36I see a player that I want to lead the team and push the team.

12:40He's got two years left on his contract.

12:42Would you hope for maybe this as well as the first step towards making sure that he's here for the long term?

12:48Yes, I was thinking when I name a captain, it's because I think he's the best, no matter what can help the team now and also in the future.

13:00So it's not really linked with the contract situation, if that makes sense.

13:05Of course, he's a very good player, so I would love him to stay for longer.

13:09Okay, thank you very much.

13:10Thank you guys.

13:12Enjoy the sun.

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