Romero claims he channelled inner ‘Messi’ for last-gasp overhead kick
The Tottenham captain scored twice in the draw with Newcastle
Cristian Romero said his stoppage-time overhead kick at St James’ Park was the type of strike he has watched Lionel Messi produce for Argentina, after Tottenham claimed a point in Tuesday night’s draw with Newcastle.
The defender scored twice in a 2-2 result, including a 95th-minute effort that dropped into the net through a crowd of bodies.
He said: “The first goal was very important. In the last three or four games the team weren’t good enough. It has been a difficult time but especially in this game I love the mentality.”
Speaking about the late strike, Romero linked it to the standard of finishing he has seen from his national team captain. He said: “Every day with Leo Messi in the national team I watch him and it is a beautiful goal.”
Romero, 27, now has three goals in 15 appearances this season, surpassing his league tally from last year. Spurs head coach Thomas Frank praised the defender’s all-round performance and finishing.
He said: “The perfect bicycle kick, hit the shin, aiming for the bottom corner.
“I think let’s start praising Cuti, I think he deserved that for all of the top performance, defending, on the ball, coolness, calmness, duels. And then getting up there and scoring two goals.
“I think the bicycle kick will most likely get a little bit more praise, but I think the header is more exceptional, the way he does that is better than many strikers.
“That said, I think I really liked the character, the mentality in the team, what they showed after three tough games, I think it’s been.
“To go here, the fourth game in 10 days, the third away game, very difficult place, going down two times, being behind two times, and come back, it shows everything about the willingness and the mentality in the team.”
The draw leaves Spurs 11th in the Premier League after five matches without a win.
They face Brentford this weekend. Newcastle sit 13th ahead of a home fixture against Burnley before turning their attention to Champions League football with a trip to Bayer Leverkusen next week.