Cristian Romero is the first Tottenham star to reveal how bitter divisions inside the camp sent last season into a tailspin.
Romero told how he returned after winning the World Cup with Argentina to find a split had formed between his team-mates and boss Antonio Conte and his staff.
This he identified as the root of trouble that left the club sinking to eighth and facing a season without European football for the first time since 2009-10.
Romero accepted his share of the blame, while pledging his future to Spurs and backing Ange Postecoglou to repair the damage, in a refreshingly candid interview while on pre-season tour in Australia and South East Asia, ‘After winning the World Cup, I came back and the group were somewhat separate from the staff,’ said the 25-year-old.
‘We’d win a game then lose two. When things are divided and coaches and players are not pulling in the same direction, it becomes very difficult.
‘But I’m the first to hold up my hands and take responsibility for the poor season we had. I’m not happy the season ended that way and I’m ready to repay the trust the club put in me.’
It was a difficult time for Conte, who suffered the death of three close friends during the first half of the season and required surgery to remove his gallbladder in February.
The Italian was fired in March, following an explosive post-match press conference at Southampton. Spurs conceded late goals to turn a 3-1 lead into a 3-3 draw, and the head coach accused his players of being ‘selfish’ with no ‘heart’.
Things did not improve under interim boss Cristian Stellini, and reached a nadir in a 6-1 defeat at Newcastle in April. They were five down in 21 minutes and Stellini soon followed Conte out of the door.
‘The group were already in a bad way,’ explained Romero.
‘You saw that, not only against Newcastle but in the Liverpool game when they put three past us in 20 minutes and against Manchester United, when they were 2-0 up in the first half.’
New boss Postecoglou has already improved the mood, according to the Argentine.
‘Now, the group is in a good way,’ said Romero. ‘The new manager has brought us renewed hope, and hunger.’
Romero (left) also refuted accusations that he cared more about playing for Argentina than for Spurs. ‘People who say this clearly don’t know me,’ he said.
‘If I didn’t feel the same passion, I would look to leave the club. When I got offers from other clubs, I said no. I really like the Premier League and Tottenham. I want to be here for many more years to come.’
Cristian Romero spoke at Perth Children’s Hospital, where he met patients and delivered presents on behalf of the club