On Saturday at Old Trafford, Sergio Romero’s Manchester United career got off to a shaky start thanks to a couple wayward passes. However, the former Monaco and Sampdoria goalkeeper settled down, preserving United’s lead late in the team’s EPL curtain raiser to beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0.

Manchester United weren’t great in attack, needing an own goal from Spurs’ Kyle Walker to get off the mark. The Londoners were the much more adventures side early on, until the goal forced them back into a more conservative shell.

However, when Spurs finally came forward near the end of the 90 minutes, it was Romero’s solid goalkeeping, four saves, that kept Tottenham at bay in the second half. Romero commanded his area expertly, claiming balls that came into the 18-yard box as well as stopping Christian Eriksen’s ferious shot from just outside the area.

Clearly United’s number two goalkeeper, Romero was a shock selection as David De Gea’s possible move to Real Madrid gained more traction with the Spaniard in the stands. De Gea sat next to two other current United goalkeepers in Victor Valdes and Anders Lindegaard, both out of favor.

SEE MORE: Read Manchester United’s 2015/16 season preview.

In his pre-game interview courtesy of BT Sport, manager Louis van Gaal looked a bit nervous fielding questions about De Gea’s exclusion from the season opener. Luckily for both player and manager, Romero was able to quiet any critics for the time being.

Signed on a free-transfer following the completion of his Sampdoria contract, Romero’s addition surprised many; especially those that witnessed some of his performances in Serie A last term. Despite being Argentina’s No. 1, a fact down to the country’s lack of goalkeepers more than anything, Romero seemed to lack the qualities of a goalkeeper for a club like United.

On Saturday against Tottenham, however, Romero’s decision making was excellent; and he manned his line as if he was already the club’s No. 1. He had a point to prove and, for at least now, he proved that De Gea may be expendable. Though Romero’s distribution showed he has plenty to work on in training.

Obviously, Romero will be put to the test in weeks to come, that is, if he is still in goal. Even if De Gea is sold, Spurs’ Hugo Lloris could be on his way to Old Trafford. Lloris sat out the Saturday’s affair due to fitness. Though, he did make Spurs’ bench.

In terms of Romero, the 2012/13 season was the last time he played more than ten games in a term for one team as that year he played 32 times for Sampdoria.

He followed up that successful Sampdoria season by moving to big spending Monaco on loan. There he found playing time difficult, and featured a mere three times before returning to Sampdoria as a back up to Emiliano Viviano.

Against Spurs, Romero and right-back Matteo Damian looked like United’s most astute summer signings. Although Morgan Schneiderlin put in a good, if not unspectacular, shift. It was actually United’s attack that looked in need of help as near $30 million signing Memphis Depay got his Premier League feet wet for the first time. He did what he could, but Wayne Rooney was left to feed on scraps at times.

United travel to Birmingham to face Aston Villa next Friday before opening UEFA Champions League qualification against Belgium’s Club Brugge. Romero’s performance, for now, will give Van Gaal respite until the De Gea saga is over.

 

Follow Drew Farmer on Twitter @Calciofarmer. Drew Farmer is a Manchester, England-based journalist/blogger that writes for World Soccer Talk. Drew has contributed to Radio Yorkshire MLS Monday, Forza Italian Football, Bleacher Report, MLSGB and Soccerly. Originally from southwest Missouri, Drew covers Italy’s Serie A, British football and the USA’s Major League Soccer.