Xavi Simons suffered a season-ending ACL rupture in the game against Wolves.
Xavi Simons’ season-ending ACL rupture at Molineux represents the deepest point of Tottenham Hotspur’s injury-ravaged campaign. Not just because it eliminates a fat investment from the relegation run-in, but because the circumstances surrounding his injury expose systemic failures within the club’s medical department that have been catastrophically mismanaged all season.
The 23-year-old Netherlands international collapsed in the 58th minute of Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Wolves, initially attempting to run off what appeared to be a jarred knee before falling again in front of Spurs’ medical staff.
Fan footage that emerged post-match shows medical personnel encouraging Simons to stand and walk despite obvious distress. Stupid. This ACL rupture will sideline him for six to nine months and rule him out of this summer’s World Cup. But coming back to the league, it is sad for the Lilywhites to be without his services. How can we line up without Xavi? Here’s how via The Standard.
What to do?
The tactical ramifications for Roberto De Zerbi are severe. Simons was the creative fulcrum in a desperate 4-2-3-1 formation, tasked with unlocking deep-lying defences that have stifled Spurs throughout their winless streak. His absence forces either Lucas Bergvall (who lost all nine duels against Sunderland) or Rodrigo Bentancur into an attacking midfield role neither naturally occupies.
With Simons gone, James Maddison, himself only recently returned from a three-month absence, must assume creative responsibilities despite showing little form or fitness. Dejan Kulusevski remains sidelined after missing the entire season following May’s knee surgery, Cristian Romero sees himself done for the campaign with his own knee injury, and Mohammed Kudus faces potential season-ending surgery after suffering a setback in his recovery.
De Zerbi’s first victory, secured via Brennan Johnson’s 76th-minute header at Wolves, briefly lifted Tottenham out of the relegation zone before West Ham’s stoppage-time winner against Everton plunged them back into 18th. All in all, it is either Madders, Bergvall, Bentancur or Tel playing that creative role. Two of them only coming back from injury yesterday. The other two, not so great at #10.
Four matches remain. Two points separate Spurs from safety. And their most expensive creative player now watches from the treatment table, another victim of a medical infrastructure seemingly incapable of managing elite athletes.