Xavi Simons was impressive in Tottenham’s 2-0 win over Brentford recently.
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Xavi Simons looked like a different footballer in that Lilywhites win over Brentford last weekend. The Dutchman scored one and grabbed an assist as we saw the La Masia academy graduate get his swagger back in the way he moved. And that gave the North Londoners the spark that Thomas Frank’s men have been missing behind the #9 this season.
We saw the 22-year-old has had a difficult start to life in the English top tier. He has often been watching from the bench as the targets Tottenham had before him, Gibbs-White and Eze, continued to win games for their respective employers, adding to Tottenham’s frustrations.
But while things were tough for him on the pitch, he had one of his international teammates quietly helping to drag him through the tough moments behind the scenes. And Micky van de Ven has now lifted the lid on his conversations with Simons. He spoke about how he helped the former PSG man reset his mindset at Hotspur Way.
And then in that game against Brentford, Simons finally started showing the whys behind reasons to the decisionmakers at Hotspur Way who are willing to build the project around him.
Xavi Simons had an inspiring display vs. Brentford
It was a first half where everything was flowing through Simons before half-time last weekend. And first we saw him laying that assist where he put in a fine cross. It was a high-quality delivery. And then came the goal. It was a memorable one as well. He picked the ball in the middle fo the park and drove with it for yards before finishing what was a goal he will not forget for a long time. He showed a sense of conviction there which has been missing from his games since he moved to England.
For someone who has been a source of frustration among newspapers and conversations among fans, that performance felt like a huge statement. And it was not only about the numbers. That game was more about the way he was playing. He was demanding the ball and linking the play, looking a lot like the midfielder that Frank would want in his second phase.
Micky van de Ven reveals Xavi Simons conversation
Now in a conversation with Football.london, Micky van de Ven revealed what he told the Lilywhites summer signing to rebuild his confidence. He said:
“Of course, in the moments where he’s a bit down because he didn’t start, I’m there for him, and I speak with him.
“I said, ‘Xavi, trust me, your time will come, don’t you worry’, and obviously today you saw his qualities.
“Obviously, he didn’t start the last games, but I know Xavi has the quality to create things for us. He can be really important for us, I know that.
“For you guys [the media], of course, it’s more difficult to see that, but I think he showed it today by himself as well. He delivered an unbelievable performance today and was really important for the team.”
And now with Simons looking a lot like himself, this could be the start of Tottenham’s season, and what a time that has come by at just ahead of the festive period of Premier League fixtures.
How excited are you after that Simons performance vs Brentford? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
