Tottenham: Ange Postecoglou reveals Cristian Romero apology and explains what happens next | OneFootball

Argentine defender appeared to criticise club’s board following Chelsea defeat

Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou says Cristian Romero has apologised for comments appearing to criticise Tottenham's board after Sunday's defeat to Chelsea, and insists the club's problems are not down to "one thing or one person".

Romero backed Postecoglou but seemed to take aim at chairman Daniel Levy following Sunday's 4-3 home loss, which left Spurs 11th in the Premier League table.

"The last few years, it's always the same - first the players, then the coaching staff changes, and it's always the same people responsible," Romero said in an interview translated from Spanish.

The centre-half had returned to the Spurs XI after nearly a month out with a foot complaint but was forced off with a quad injury after just 14 minutes.

Postecoglou says the Argentina international, who is now facing another spell on the sidelines, was "really disappointed" and "very emotional" following the game.

"I think it was his way of trying to as a leader help us in the group," Postecoglou said in Glasgow ahead of Spurs' Europa League meeting with Rangers on Thursday.

"We're going through a tough time and he believes in what we're doing.

"He's passionate about having success at the club and the way he expressed it was not the right way in a public sense. I don't feel and it's certainly not my belief that our challenges at the moment are down to one thing or one person, I don't believe that, I never have believed that.

"A lot of what he said was good, some wasn't right and shouldn't have been done in public. We deal with these things in our own four walls. There's always issues we need to deal with. The same way I wouldn't criticise a player or anyone else, we shouldn't be doing that in a public sense."

Asked if Romero would be sanctioned by the club, Postecoglou added: "I just think you deal with these things internally.

"I just don't think there's any benefit for us [in being public]. I know people get really salacious about punishments and stuff.

"They really love that sort of thing. I think I'm pretty consistent in saying I don't just think that's important. I think what's more important is an understanding of how we should deal with these things and deal with them better.

"I've already spoken to Cristian about it and and you know, he's apologised for the fact that the way he said it, particularly in the public sense, wasn't the right way to go about things. He's a human being, he got emotional and I think he just expressed what he wanted to express, probably in the wrong way.

"He does care. I think it would have been easy for him not to say anything. He does care, but there's a way to do these things and a way to express yourself and the way he did it wasn't the right way."

Romero also called on Spurs to match the investment of the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea.

Postecoglou believes Spurs can compete with their bigger-spending rivals in their own way, and believes many other clubs should be envious of their infrastructure and position.

"We know there's a gap, but not between just us, with most clubs and some of those clubs," the head coach said. "So we understand that, but within that context, I don't think it doesn't mean you can't be competitive in your own way.

"I think what Cristian was kind of talking about, and it's what I believe as well, is that we should aim to think like those clubs and try to be successful every year.

"I think the other thing that he did say quite clearly is that it does have the elements of being a big club, you know, it has the infrastructure, it has the stadium, it has the support.

"So it's very easy to point the finger of blame about one thing, but also you've got to acknowledge that these things are there as well, because other clubs are endeavouring to do that.

"Some still have that journey ahead, It's just the way I kind of think. I just don't think that it's one thing that will get us to where we want to, and I don't think there's one thing that's stopping us from getting to where we want to.

"I'm certainly as ambitious as everyone else is at the football club since I've been here to bring success. That means taking on and trying to beat the teams that in some respects have extra resources, but we can find different ways of of bridging that gap."