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Cristian Romero has ignited controversy by travelling to Argentina just days before Tottenham Hotspur’s critical Premier League clash against Everton on Sunday, a match that could determine their top-flight status.

Spurs find themselves embroiled in a desperate relegation battle, sitting merely two points above 18th-placed West Ham following their 2-1 defeat by London rivals Chelsea on Tuesday.

Despite being sidelined with an injury and absent from the Stamford Bridge fixture, Romero had been lauded as a "great captain" by manager Roberto De Zerbi only a day earlier.

However, it has since emerged that the Argentine defender is back in his homeland, attending his boyhood club Belgrano, who are set to play River Plate in a title decider this weekend.

Belgrano’s official X account posted a video of Romero at their training ground on Thursday night, a move that has provoked significant anger among a disgruntled Spurs fanbase.

Supporters are increasingly fearful of a catastrophic relegation, which would mark the club’s first in 49 years.

While Romero was present for the Leeds fixture on 11 May, his potential absence from what is being dubbed the biggest Premier League match in Tottenham’s history could severely strain his relationship with the club’s faithful.

Romero has been at Spurs since 2021, initially joining on loan from Atalanta before making the transfer permanent the following year.

In total, he has made 156 appearances for Tottenham and played a key role in their run to Europa League glory last season under Ange Postecoglou.

He was handed the captain’s armband following the departure of Son Heung-min last summer, but has been unable to lead Tottenham away from a relegation dogfight this term.

Romero has featured in 23 Premier League games for Spurs this season, but the injury he picked up in De Zerbi’s first game last month has led to him missing the run-in.

And he is now not even going to be in the country for Tottenham’s final game of the season, with De Zerbi’s men realistically needing a point to ensure they remain in the Premier League.

Another defeat could spell disaster for Tottenham, as a West Ham victory over Leeds would then send them down to the Championship.

Tottenham Hotspur fans are planning a significant protest following their final Premier League match of the season against Everton on Sunday, irrespective of whether the club avoids relegation.

The demonstration by the fan group Change for Tottenham underscores a season of deep dissatisfaction as the club battles to retain its top-flight status.

Currently 17th in the league, just two points above the relegation zone after a 2-1 defeat by Chelsea on Tuesday, Spurs face a precarious end to what has been a calamitous campaign.

The world’s ninth-richest football team has endured three head coaches and set multiple unwanted records, including a club-record six consecutive losses and a 15-match winless streak in the Premier League.

Ahead of the crucial home fixture, Change for Tottenham issued a statement urging unity during the match itself.

"This Sunday, for 90 minutes, we need to get behind the team. Nothing else matters," the statement read. "We need the points and the players need every one of us behind them for one last time this season."

However, the group made it clear that once the final whistle blows, their focus will shift to holding the club's hierarchy accountable.

"When the final whistle blows, regardless of the result, we need to stand up to the board for putting us in this perilous position."

While acknowledging a significant injury list has hampered the squad, Change for Tottenham primarily attributes the club's woes to chief executive Vinai Venkatesham, director of football Johan Lange, and the owners, ENIC, run by the Lewis family.

Venkatesham and Lange were instrumental in the summer appointment of Thomas Frank, alongside Daniel Levy, who departed his role as chairman after 24 years in September.

Sources close to the Lewis family reportedly told the Press Association at the time that they desired "more wins, more often" and believed a change at the top was necessary after Levy's long tenure.

Levy’s departure, however, contributed to a perceived leadership vacuum, despite Venkatesham subsequently bringing in performance director Dan Lewindon and Rafi Moersen as director of football operations.

Frank, after a promising start, recorded the worst win rate of any permanent Spurs manager before his dismissal on 11 February, a week after a quiet winter transfer window despite a severe injury crisis.

His successor, interim head coach Igor Tudor, lost five of his seven matches. The decision to appoint Roberto De Zerbi has since been hailed as inspired, with his transformative effect on a low-on-confidence and injury-hit squad.

Yet, even De Zerbi’s impact may not be enough to avert a catastrophic first relegation in 49 years if West Ham defeat Leeds and Everton secure a victory.

The fan group's statement continued with scathing criticism of the club's management decisions.

"Thomas Frank should have been sacked months before he was and Igor Tudor should never have been appointed, which resulted in our worst losing run in the club’s history," they stated.

"We were desperate in January for new signings, every fan could see it and the board did nothing." The group also directly targeted the ownership: "Levy has gone and nothing has changed as it was never one man. It is ENIC and the Lewis family who own us and say nothing. Promised success, delivering failure."

Change for Tottenham concluded by urging supporters to join their protest: "So, on Sunday our banners will go up in the North, East and South stands at full time regardless of the result. Join us to chant against the board and make your voice heard. We can’t allow this to happen ever again."

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James Maddison has admitted it is "a little bit embarrassing" for Tottenham Hotspur to find themselves embroiled in a final-day relegation battle, but has unequivocally stated that Premier League survival is "non-negotiable" for the club.

Spurs squandered an opportunity to secure their top-flight status following a 2-1 defeat by London rivals Chelsea on Tuesday. Maddison featured for the final 21 minutes, marking only his second appearance since returning from a serious knee injury.

A single point from the fixture would have relegated West Ham United due to Tottenham’s far superior goal difference, but the fight for survival now extends to Sunday’s decisive match against Everton, where a win or a draw will guarantee safety.

"It’s non-negotiable. We have to (get over the line) for this club," Maddison asserted. "We’ve got to give everything for this club, for the badge and for our fans. It is unacceptable and a little bit embarrassing that we’re in this position as Tottenham Hotspur but it’s the reality unfortunately and it’s up to us to get out of it."

The midfielder also praised the club’s travelling support, adding: "Sunday is going to be a big day. We’re going to need everyone, we’re going to need our fans who were absolutely unbelievable today by the way.

“Even at 2-0 down you could just hear them and I genuinely think we’ve got the best away support in the league. We need to repay them with a good performance and some points on Sunday to secure Premier League survival."

At Stamford Bridge, Tottenham started brightly, with Mathys Tel hitting the post, before Chelsea took the lead through a superb 30-yard strike from Enzo Fernandez.

The first half remained evenly contested, but a costly wayward pass from Randal Kolo Muani in the 67th minute allowed Cole Palmer to break free, leading to Andrey Santos firing home Chelsea’s second goal.

Maddison was poised to enter the fray just before the second goal. Despite Richarlison pulling one back with 16 minutes remaining, Maddison himself was denied by an excellent Jorrel Hato block.

Tottenham were also controversially denied a penalty when visiting captain Micky van de Ven was brought down by Marc Cucurella, who received a booking. However, referee Stuart Attwell ruled the foul occurred before the ball was in play, ordering a retake of the corner.

Addressing his fitness and potential playing time for Sunday’s crucial match, Maddison, who suffered a rupture of his anterior cruciate ligament in August, told Sky Sports: "Well, anyone who has worked in football or has been through this injury, it is not as easy just to drop back in.

“It would be catastrophic for my career if something was to happen and we weren’t safe or followed the protocols from the specialist, but obviously I want to help the team as much as I can.

“Obviously I’ve been out for a long time so I’m not going to be at my fluid and fluent best, but I feel good and I’ve just got to try to help the team with whatever many minutes I can."

The upcoming fixture against Everton at home represents a pivotal moment for Tottenham, with their Premier League future hanging in the balance.

Tottenham’s fight to avoid relegation from the Premier League will go to the final day of the season after they were beaten 2-1 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to hand 18th-place West Ham a lifeline.

A point in southwest London would have put an end to the Spurs nightmare that still threatens to pull them into the second tier for the first time in 48 years but they succumbed to familiar frailties, Enzo Fernandez and Andrey Santos scoring in each half for the Blues in entirely avoidable circumstances for Roberto De Zerbi’s side.

Richarlison got one back 16 minutes from the end to offer late hope and give the signal for a hugely tense finish, the jeopardy felt by home fans at potentially being denied a role in sending Spurs down igniting the atmosphere.

It was the most rambunctious noise they had generated here all season in support of their team, understandably following the coup this week of landing Xabi Alonso as the club’s new manager, though there was plainly a delight in seeing their great rivals pushed possibly to within a defeat of the drop.

Chelsea fans never missed a beat all night in reminding Spurs of what may await them come Sunday, and next season.

It was a first Blues victory in the league since 4 March but the real winners here were West Ham. A victory for Nuno Espirito Santo’s team at home to Leeds coupled with a Spurs loss to Everton and the Hammers will be safe.

Tottenham needed a fast start to quieten an unusually boisterous crowd and they almost got it, Pedro Porro’s flighted ball into the box, and Mathys Tel’s flying header whacked the base of the post.

The opening goal was a mix of Chelsea brilliance and an abdication of responsibility in Spurs’ defence. Pedro Neto found Fernandez in an acre of room in midfield. No one in yellow made a move and from fully 30 yards the World Cup winner fired Chelsea into the lead.

It was his 14th of the season and he might have had another straight away but thudded the angle of post and bar from a free-kick way out near the touchline.

When Randal Kolo Muani spooned a cross horribly out of play, home fans responded with taunts of “that’s why you’re going down”. Cole Palmer came within an inch of making it two with a low drive on the stroke of half-time, lending those words an ominous ring.

Spurs grew into the game in the second half, with more possession and more of it around Chelsea’s penalty area. It was then entirely in keeping with the unfolding disaster of their season that they threw away another goal and with it hopes of securing survival on the night.

Kolo Muani played a pass to no one in midfield, Palmer took charge of the loose ball and clipped it up to Fernandez who knocked it across goal to the unmarked Santos for 2-0.

Pape Sarr came off the bench and immediately put a flicker of life back into his side, back-heeling to Richarlison who showed rare alertness to prod it past Sanchez.

James Maddison, another substitute, had the chance to seal Spurs’ survival seven minutes from the end but was denied brilliantly by Jorrel Hato.

PA

Tottenham Hotspur’s survival fight will go to the final day after they missed out on the chance to seal survival against Chelsea.

With West Ham two points behind and with just one game left, victory at Stamford Bridge would have made certain of a Premier League place next season for Spurs – and a draw would almost certainly have sufficed, too, given their vastly superior goal difference.

But having been beaten 2-1 by their London rivals, Roberto De Zerbi’s side face an anxious final day encounter with Everton with West Ham taking on Leeds simultaneously.

The situation might have been different, though, had a late penalty appeal been given by referee Stuart Attwell.

With a corner about to be taken, Attwell blew his whistle and brandished a yellow card in the direction of Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella, who appeared to wrestle Micky van de Ven to the floor.

The incident occurred in the 85th minute after Richarlison had halved the deficit for the visitors, and several Spurs players seemed to wonder why Attwell did not point to the penalty spot having deemed the incident worthy of a caution.

However, IFAB Law 12, which covers fouls and misconduct, clearly states that direct and indirect free-kicks, and penalty kickss, can only be awarded for offences committed in “when the ball is in play”. As the corner had not yet been delivered, as was determined by video assistant referee John Brooks, that was not the case in these circumstances.

The Premier League relegation battle will be decided on the final day with Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United battling to avoid the drop.

Spurs had the chance to seal their safety with a game to spare, but were beaten 2-1 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

One point would, barring a mighty goal difference swing, be enough for Roberto De Zerbi’s side, with both they and their relegation rivals at home on the final day.

Tottenham host Everton while West Ham take on Leeds at the London Stadium with a thrilling battle set to go to the wire.

With Wolves and Burnley both relegated, here are the permutations.

Position: 17th | Played: 37 | Points: 38 | GD: -10

Remaining fixtures:

One point would surely do for Spurs now, their goal difference 13 better than that of West Ham with a game to go. Everton have little to play for – though David Moyes may wish to keep his former club up.

Position: 18th | Played: 37 | Points: 36 | GD: -22

Remaining fixtures:

There is just one game to come for West Ham, though they are, at least, not relegated before they play it. West Ham will have to win against Leeds to have any hope; if Spurs take a point, it will require a goal difference swing that is surely beyond Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.

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Liveupdated

Chelsea vs Tottenham LIVE: Spurs behind but fighting back in bid to seal Premier League survival and relegate West Ham

West Ham will be relegated if Spurs win at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham, 75 minutes

Trevoh Chalobah is introduced for Josh Acheampong as Chelsea look to protect their lead and West Ham’s survival chances.

Harry Latham-Coyle19 May 2026 21:47

GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 TOTTENHAM (Richarlison, 73 minutes)

There is one back! Tottenham finally find some cutting edge, though there is a stroke of luck involved – Pedro Porro works to the byline and cuts back for Pape Matar Sarr, who is surely aiming for goal as he spins and backheels.

His skew, and it does look a skew, is perfectly placed for Richarlison to tap home. Remember, a draw would almost certainly do for Spurs...

Harry Latham-Coyle19 May 2026 21:46

Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham, 71 minutes

Tottenham are at home on the final day, of course, which would usually be a boost – although their away form has been far better this season.

Conor Gallagher gets a leg to a cross from Pedro Porro but can’t beat Robert Sanchez, safely behind it.

Harry Latham-Coyle19 May 2026 21:43

Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham, 69 minutes

Roberto De Zerbi locks the stable door. On come Pape Matar Sarr, Djed Spence and James Maddison for Joao Palhinha, Destiny Udogie and Randal Kolo Muani, who I think was at fault for the giveaway that led to the goal.

Harry Latham-Coyle19 May 2026 21:41

GOAL! CHELSEA 2-0 Tottenham (Andrey Santos, 68 minutes)

About that! Tottenham give the ball away in midfield and Chelsea pounce, doubling their lead through Andrey Santos.

It’s a neatly-taken goal, a cross from the right looping to Enzo Fernandez, who cushions it down nicely. Santos arrives with ideal timing to scuff the ball home.

Harry Latham-Coyle19 May 2026 21:40

Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham, 66 minutes

A triple change is being readied for Tottenham, but they must be careful not to concede in the meantime...

Harry Latham-Coyle19 May 2026 21:39

Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham, 65 minutes

There is just so little quality in the final third from Spurs. Randal Kolo Muani is the latest culprit, playing a pass to no-one in particular having driven towards the outer reaches of the 18-yard box.

Harry Latham-Coyle19 May 2026 21:37

Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham, 63 minutes

It is a surprise that Roberto De Zerbi hasn’t gone to his bench yet. How many minutes could James Maddison manage?

Destiny Udogie is a third member of the visiting back four to be booked.

Harry Latham-Coyle19 May 2026 21:35

Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham, 61 minutes

Now it’s Chelsea’s chance to load the box with a free kick on the right, but Wesley Fofana is whistled for a foul as the ball comes in.

Harry Latham-Coyle19 May 2026 21:33

Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham, 58 minutes

Richarlison troubles Robert Sanchez from the set-piece, though there isn’t enough oomph in his header to really test the goalkeeper. A first effort on target of the night for Tottenham.

Harry Latham-Coyle19 May 2026 21:30

Tottenham Hotspur could secure Premier League safety with a game to spare after West Ham were left on the brink of relegation.

After a 3-1 defeat at Newcastle kept Nuno Espirito Santo’s side in the bottom three as a crucial opportunity was missed to put the pressure on Spurs, Roberto De Zerbi’s side travel to Chelsea on Tuesday night.

Spurs need just one point, realistically, to make certain that they will avert disaster and remain in the top-flight next season.

They have a vastly superior goal difference to their relegation rivals, who looked resigned to their fate after the loss at St James’ Park.

With Wolves and Burnley both relegated, here are the permutations.

Position: 17th | Played: 36 | Points: 38 | GD: -9

Remaining fixtures:

One point would surely do for Spurs now, their goal difference 13 better than that of West Ham with two games to go. It could be done and dusted by the final day totally, of course, if a win is achieved at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, before they host an Everton side with little to play for.

Position: 18th | Played: 37 | Points: 36 | GD: -22

Remaining fixtures:

There is just one game to come for West Ham, who could be down before they play it. If Tottenham are beaten in both of their final games, West Ham will have to win against Leeds to have any hope; if Spurs nick a point in either fixture, it will require a goal difference swing surely out of reach.