Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-2 draw with Roma in the Europa League on Thursday evening was a frustrating result for manager Ange Postecoglou, but one player’s performance stood out for all the wrong reasons. Radu Dragusin, the 22-year-old centre-back, had a disastrous evening, and his display has raised serious questions about his future at the club.
Dragusin’s performance was a liability for Tottenham, and he was deservedly awarded a rating of 2 out of 10. The Romanian centre-back looked completely out of his depth at times, lacking composure and making poor decisions that led to Roma’s opening goal. His reckless challenge in the second half was lucky not to have earned him a red card.
“Radu Dragusin’s performance was unacceptable,” said a furious Postecoglou in his post-match press conference. “He’s a centre-back who can’t defend, and that’s a major problem. We need to see a lot more from him if he’s going to play for this club.”
Dragusin’s display was a major concern for Tottenham, and he will need to significantly improve his performances if he is to remain a part of Postecoglou’s plans. The Romanian centre-back has struggled to establish himself in the Tottenham first team, and his lack of progress has been a source of frustration for the club’s coaching staff.
“Radu needs to take a long, hard look at his game and figure out what’s going wrong,” said Postecoglou. “He’s got the potential to be a top-class centre-back, but he needs to start showing it on the pitch. We can’t keep carrying players who aren’t performing.”
Dragusin’s calamitous display has also raised questions about Tottenham’s defensive recruitment strategy. The club has invested heavily in their defence in recent years, but the results have been mixed. Dragusin’s struggles are just the latest example of a Tottenham defender failing to live up to expectations.
“Tottenham’s defensive problems are nothing new,” said former Tottenham defender Ledley King. “The club has struggled to find a consistent centre-back pairing for years, and it’s an area that needs to be addressed. Radu Dragusin’s performance against Roma was a concern, but it’s not just about him. The whole defence needs to improve if Tottenham are going to achieve their goals this season.”
As for Dragusin, he will need to bounce back quickly from his disastrous display against Roma. The Romanian centre-back has a lot to prove, and he will need to start showing significant improvement if he is to remain a part of Postecoglou’s plans.
