Tottenham Hotspur star Xavi Simons compared to Manchester United flop Antony
Tottenham summer signing Xavi Simons had to hide his face in embarrassment after another disappointing outing in the Premier League. The Dutchman did not start the game against Chelsea, with Lucas Bergvall preferred in the No.10 role. However, just six minutes into the match, the young Swede was forced off after taking a blow to the head from close range.
In came Simons, who was yet to make a mark at N17 following his high-profile switch from RB Leipzig in the summer. There was hope that the Dutchman would step up for Spurs against their local rivals Chelsea and help the Lilywhites cross the finish line in the end. But the 22-year-old failed to step up yet again as the game went on, and was nowhere near the level required to compete with Enzo Maresca’s dominant side.
It was his sloppy pass that sold Micky van de Ven short, allowing Moises Caicedo to clinch the ball and set up Joao Pedro for Chelsea’s opening goal. From that point on, Simons failed to make amends and was repeatedly outmuscled by the Blues in the final third. Despite being introduced early, Thomas Frank opted to substitute the 22-year-old in the second half, further highlighting how poor he was for the North Londoners once again.
Patience wearing thin for Tottenham summer signing Xavi Simons
Simons has now gone ten games without a single goal contribution for Tottenham this season. The former RB Leipzig midfielder has struggled to settle and looks a shadow of the player who shone in the Bundesliga. His display against Chelsea exposed his weaknesses once more, as he failed to find any rhythm or take on defenders effectively. Instead, he continually opted for the safer pass, much to the frustration of the home crowd.
Former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara was particularly critical of Simons’ performance. Speaking on talkSPORT, O’Hara said,
“It feels like we signed an Antony. Xavi Simons! I’m sick to death of him. He gives the ball away, soft, short, and Caicedo nicks it off him. Honestly, he’s come on for Bergvall after five minutes, and it’s like we’re playing with ten men. I’m sick of it, £60million we spent and he’s bang average, he gives the ball away for fun.”
O’Hara compared Simons to Manchester United’s flop signing Antony, blasting the Dutchman for his lacklustre performance against Chelsea. The pundit suggested that Spurs were effectively playing with ten men after Simons replaced Bergvall early in the game, adding that the club had wasted £60 million on a “bang average” player.
While O’Hara’s comments may seem harsh, they reflect the growing frustration among fans. Simons is still young and adapting to the physical and tactical demands of the Premier League, and there remains time for him to turn things around at N17. Once he finds consistency and confidence in his performances, he could yet rediscover his best form.
However, it is also fair to admit that Simons has done little to justify a place in the starting eleven for the upcoming fixtures. The Dutchman has looked out of place in recent weeks, and his confidence appears to be at an all-time low. The best path forward for him might be to make an impact from the bench, away from the intense spotlight, and gradually rebuild his rhythm and self-belief.