Thomas Frank sticks to his guns regarding Xavi Simons despite N17 disapproval
Tottenham and Manchester United battled to a 2-2 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Bryan Mbeumo scored the opener in the first half but Tottenham scored Mathys Tel and Richarlison scored two late goals in the second half to send Tottenham in front. Spurs’ celebrations were short-lived, as Matthijs de Ligt scored from a corner kick in the dying moments of the game, ending the match 2-2.
Thomas Frank opted to start the game with 22-year-old Xavi Simons, who impressed with his performance. Simon’s composure on the ball, passing, and creativity were creating problems for the United team.
Tottenham fans booed Thomas Frank’s decision to substitute Simons for Tel in the 79th minute of the game. However, Frank proved to be spot on with his decision, as Tel got on the scoresheet just five minutes after coming on the field.
When asked about the situation after the game, Frank said via Sky Sports:
“Sometimes you’re lucky. But of course, I would say that every single time I take a decision to stop a player, it’s with one aim to make the team win or get back in the game or try to see the game out. It’s only with one aim to try to win the game. No doubt, Mathys did well, great goal, great involvement.”
“In general, I think Xavi played a fine game, a positive one, but you also need a little bit of freshness. Every single time I make a decision, there’s one aim – that is to make the team better.”
Has the Xavi Simons investment finally started to pay off?
The Lilywhites signed Simons from RB Leipzig last summer for £52 million. Initially, after arriving at N17, Simons had struggled for form this season, but he has now delivered impressive performances in back-to-back matches against Copenhagen and Manchester United. With James Maddison and several other attackers currently sidelined through injury, this is the perfect opportunity for the Dutchman to shine.
After a disappointing loss to Chelsea last weekend, Spurs bounced back with a resilient 2-2 draw against Manchester United. They created multiple great chances in the second half, keeping Senne Lammens on his toes.
Mohammed Kudus remains sidelined due to the knock he picked up in the Chelsea match and missed the United game as well. With important upcoming fixtures against Arsenal and PSG, Spurs will need to maintain strong performances across the board.