Tottenham must bring the best out of Xavi Simons under Thomas Frank this season
Tottenham summer signing Xavi Simons produced one of his strongest performances for the club in the Champions League win against FC Copenhagen on Tuesday night. The Dutchman found effective pockets of space in the number 10 role, linking midfield and attack with confidence. He also registered an assist, setting up Brennan Johnson for the opening goal early in the first half.
Supporters would have been encouraged to see the 22-year-old take full advantage of his opportunity in the attacking midfield position. Simons has struggled to make a consistent impact at N17 since arriving from RB Leipzig in a high-profile move during the summer. He has yet to fully settle into Thomas Frank’s system, and the manager has been working to find the most suitable role for him in the squad.
His inconsistent displays have also attracted criticism from some sections of the fanbase. Pundit Jamie O’Hara recently suggested that Simons was no better than former Manchester United winger Antony, claiming the 22-year-old was finding it difficult to adjust to the demands of Premier League football.
Xavi Simons has not yet found consistency for Tottenham this season
However, the statistics and performances across most matches paint a different picture. Aside from a poor outing against Chelsea last weekend, Simons has linked play well in the #10 role and shown promise in connecting with attackers. His performances in Europe have been particularly encouraging, helping Spurs maintain their unbeaten record in the Champions League this season.
Alasdair Gold has now argued that Tottenham should have used the Champions League more effectively to ease Simons into Thomas Frank’s system. Speaking on his own YouTube channel, Gold said,
“I don’t know if it’s annoyed me or I found it surprising that it would have seemed from the outside, like using Xavi Simons in the Champions League games would have been the best kind of gradual introduction to life at Tottenham for him.”
The journalist added,
“Maybe more so than even the Premier League games because he’s be playing in a European style and tempo and pace that he would be used to. And that would just get him used to the way Tottenham play rather than just throwing him into the hustle and bustle of the Premier League.”
Gold believes Tottenham missed an opportunity to use European fixtures to build Simons’ confidence and rhythm. He suggests that the slower tempo in European matches would have suited the 22-year-old better, while the fast pace of the Premier League may have dented his confidence, meaning it could now take time for him to fully regain it.
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Gold’s assessment is fair. Xavi Simons is at his best when he has space in the final third to carry the ball and create chances. The Premier League provides far less time on the ball, often forcing creative players into quick decision-making. Tottenham must now ensure the 22-year-old receives the time, patience, and continuity he needs to build on his positive performance against Copenhagen.
