Thomas Frank has revealed reason behind not starting Xavi Simons in the last three Tottenham games
Tottenham Hotspur are back in Premier League action on Tuesday evening as they cross swords with Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
Spurs’ home woes continued on Saturday when they lost 2-1 to Fulham in a London derby, and the fans vent their frustration and anger by booing the players off at full-time whistle. Pedro Porro came in the spotlight for his actions after the game, while Guglielmo Vicario endured a tough time on the pitch after his mistake gifted Fulham their second goal.
Thomas Frank, criticised for his pragmatic and safety-first approach style of football, has been desperately trying to find a winning formula in recent games. This has seen the 52-year-old experiment with different formations and personnel. In the past two games, the Dane has used a 4-2-2-2 formation and also tweaked his personnel, although results have shown no signs of improvement.
Thomas Frank hints why Xavi Simons has not started in recent games
Xavi Simons has been one of the players to have been impacted by the gaffer’s recent tweaks. The Dutchman arrived at the club from RB Leipzig as a marquee acquisition, hoping to fill the gaping hole created by James Maddison’s serious ACL rupture. However, he is yet to hit the ground running in a Tottenham shirt, bagging just two assists in 17 appearances thus far.
As a result, Xavi Simons now finds himself drifting in and out of the starting XI under Frank. The 22-year-old has received scathing criticism from former players, pundits, fans and media outlets. The Tottenham boss has chosen not to start the Dutch talent in recent games. He began all three fixtures on the bench, with Spurs losing each of those.
When addressing the media ahead of the Newcastle game, Frank was asked about his decision to not start Xavi in the last three games. The Dane explained in his pre-match presser:
“There’s a reason why we’ve got Xavi here. He’s a very good player in every aspect, he has trained well in the last couple of days, in general he’s training well.
“It’s not the first time a player has stepped into the Premier League and needs a bit of adaptation to hit the ground running.”
Xavi Simons to return to the starting XI vs. Newcastle?
Tottenham are clear underdogs on paper heading into the game against Newcastle. Frank is under increasing pressure to end this rut and get Spurs’ season back on track. As the hectic fixture schedule has begun, managing the player’s fitness levels and keeping everyone in rhythm is extremely important.
With just two days break after the Fulham game, the 52-year-old is bound to make changes to his first XI in Tyneside. This could result in Xavi starting against Newcastle, hoping to make a difference in the final third with his on and off the ball qualities. It will be a cauldron-like atmosphere on Tuesday, a test of mettle and resilience for the Netherlands international if he’s involved.