Cristian Romero’s discipline puts Spurs captaincy under Thomas Frank spotlight

Cristian Romero has often looked like the leader Tottenham need — but his continued disciplinary problems are forcing Thomas Frank to confront an uncomfortable captaincy question.

Romero’s red card against Liverpool was another flashpoint. Only Younes Kaboul has now been sent off more times for Spurs in the Premier League than the Argentine centre-back, an unwanted statistic that underscores a growing concern around reliability and control.

Romero’s intensity is central to his game. He plays on the edge and, at his best, that edge has propelled Tottenham to success — most notably when he captained Spurs to Europa League glory last season.

But that same aggression too often tips into recklessness.

For Thomas Frank, the challenge is balancing faith in one of his most influential players with the need for consistency in a squad already short on leaders.

Speaking ahead of Spurs’ clash with Crystal Palace on December 28, Frank was candid about Romero’s strengths — and his flaws.

“For me, all the players need to have a cool head and lead by example,” Frank said. “You cannot have only one leader on the pitch. I know he's the one with the armband. “We're talking about a very passionate player that, when he is at his absolute top, carries the team on his back… Without him, we wouldn't have won the trophy.”

Yet Frank acknowledged the fine line Romero walks.

“When you're very passionate, sometimes you can maybe, in a few moments, lack the extra coolness. Something he's working on.”

When Frank arrived in June, Romero was the obvious candidate to wear the armband. At 27, in his fifth season at Tottenham Hotspur, and among the most experienced in the dressing room, he looked the natural choice.

However, his disciplinary record tells a troubling story. Romero is averaging more than a yellow card every other Premier League game this season — hardly the benchmark for a captain tasked with setting standards.

Frank has spoken about learning and growth, but there comes a point where development conversations lose their force. Romero should be guiding teammates, not searching for guidance himself.

As Frank admitted, “some need to be guided more than others.” The question is whether Spurs’ captain should be one of them.

Romero’s latest rush of blood has intensified the sense that Tottenham remain some distance from the selfless, disciplined culture Frank previously cultivated at Brentford.

If the man wearing the armband cannot consistently keep his cool, it becomes harder to demand composure from those around him. With Spurs still searching for stability, the captaincy — once a settled decision — is suddenly open to debate.

Frank wants to keep faith, but patience is not infinite. If Romero cannot curb his impulses, Tottenham may have no choice but to consider alternatives.

Tottenham face Crystal Palace on December 28 with scrutiny firmly on their captain. Romero’s response — not just in performance, but in behaviour — could determine whether he remains Frank’s on-field leader.

For Spurs, the dilemma is stark: persist with a passionate captain who risks letting the team down, or redefine leadership standards in pursuit of the culture Frank is trying to build.

Should Thomas Frank stick with Romero — or is it time Spurs looked elsewhere for their captain?