Simeone Backs Tottenham Captain Romero as Atletico Madrid Coach

Diego Simeone, the manager of Atletico Madrid, declared himself a major admirer of Cristian Romero while supporting the Tottenham captain who has faced significant backlash before the Champions League last-16 return fixture on Wednesday.

Last year, reports suggested Simeone was interested in signing Romero, yet the Argentine defender opted to extend his stay with Tottenham, committing until 2029.

Even after renewing his contract, Romero has drawn plenty of scrutiny this term.

Two red cards have highlighted concerns over his temperament, and he has also voiced sharp opinions on social media regarding the teams leadership.

During a pre-match press briefing in north London for the Champions League encounter, Simeone was questioned on Romero and offered firm support for his compatriot.

"From my perspective as a supporter of Argentina, I value his temperament, his drive, his defending skills, and his prowess with the ball," Simeone explained to journalists on Tuesday.

"Being an Argentina enthusiast, Ive watched him more in national team matches than for Tottenham, but Im certainly a strong supporter of his talents."

The likelihood of Romero playing against Atletico provides a lift for Tottenham, who are grappling with injuries to at least 11 squad members for the return match.

Atletico hold a commanding position to advance to the quarterfinals following their 5 2 victory over Tottenham in Madrid a week ago.

This result marked the low point in a challenging season for Tottenham, who sit just one point clear of the Premier League drop zone, battling to stay in the top flight for the first time since avoiding relegation in 1977 78.

Tottenham, fresh from a 1 1 stalemate at Liverpool on Sunday, prioritise league survival over European progress.

Nevertheless, Simeone cautioned his players against taking Tottenham under Igor Tudor lightly at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

"We aim to steer the match as we intend tomorrow," he noted.

"Well bring the same high energy we showed at home, starting aggressively, though Tottenham will push forward too to entertain their supporters."