I think it’s fair to say that Oriol Romeu has had nothing short of a sublime start to 2019/20 season.
The 27-year-old has been an ever-present in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s starting line-ups so far this campaign and has really hit the ground running, producing some brilliant, workman-like displays.
His performance against Manchester United was arguably one of his finest yet, as he earned Man of the Match en route to helping Saints secure a hard-fought 1-1 draw at St Mary’s.
Romeu was the linchpin of the Saints midfield, fearlessly putting in crunching tackles to retrieve the ball and keep his team out of trouble. He made 11 recoveries over the course of the afternoon, taking his tally to 30 from just four games.
He also had a 69% tackle success rate as he made more attempts to win the ball back and tackle his opponent than any other Saints player.
With speculation surrounding the potential departure of fellow midfielder Mario Lemina, Romeu has shone through, displaying that even if Lemina leaves, there is no cause for concern, as he is proving fit to continue as a cornerstone at the heart of Southampton’s formation.
His tenacity and industrious approach are complemented by his untiring efforts to win back possession and willingness to put his body on the line for his team. These characteristics can make him very tough to play against, which was proved on Saturday, with the likes of Paul Pogba, Scott McTominay and Daniel James unable to make the breakthrough thanks to Romeu’s sedulous efforts.
Southampton are very lucky to have a player like him in their ranks; even though he can have his bad days, he can always be trusted to come into the side and give 110% for his teammates and for the supporters.
With performances like the one he gave against United, Romeu could most definitely cement his position in the starting line-up, and be a mainstay at the heart of the Southampton midfield throughout the rest of the season.
