Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink backs Xavi Simons to succeed at Tottenham Hotspur
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has made his stance clear on Spurs star Xavi Simons, and it comes from someone who understands both attacking talent and the demands of English football. He sees a player with versatility and confidence, someone comfortable on the left or in a central role. More importantly, he rates Simons’ mentality, pointing out that fear doesn’t seem to be part of his game.
Speaking to The Boy Hotspur, here is what the former Chelsea man had to say about Xavi:
“…but that’s England. It’s physical. Simons has only just started, but I like Simons. I really like him. I think he’s going to be a big, big, big success at Spurs.
He can play on the left or as a No. 10, but he’s also not scared, and that’s why I like him.”
That sort of backing is valuable, but it doesn’t shield anyone from the reality of adapting to the Premier League. Simons’ full home league debut against Wolves was a reminder of that. Simons played 78 minutes in a 1-1 draw and sorrily struggled to influence the game in any real way.
He finished without a goal, assist, or even a shot. He completed just one of his four attempted dribbles and lost the ball 24 times. Those numbers don’t define him, but they do show how sharp and demanding this division can be.
Thomas Frank started him off the left and also used him as a No. 10 for this one, a role that didn’t fully click on the day. There were a few positive carries, moments where he tried to spark movement, but nothing that opened Wolves up. Frank himself admitted the fit wasn’t ideal in this match.
Performances like that will naturally cool some of the initial excitement that surrounded his arrival. The Bundesliga offers more room to breathe and build attacks, whereas the Premier League closes you down instantly. At 22, he’s still learning the rhythm and bite of this level.
That doesn’t mean the hype was misplaced. It just means it has to be paced properly. The raw ability is there, as has been the case since his days with the Barcelona academy, the intent is also there, and players with his profile tend to grow once the first few games are out of the way.