Copyright Yardbarker
Thomas Frank must start Xavi Simons against Manchester United this weekend Tottenham summer signing Xavi Simons finally offered a glimpse of his true potential during the Champions League clash against Copenhagen on Tuesday night. The Dutchman grabbed his opportunity with conviction, playing a key role in setting up Brennan Johnson for the opening goal. Operating in the number 10 role, he looked confident and composed, gradually rediscovering his rhythm. It has not been a smooth start for Simons at N17 since his move from RB Leipzig in the summer. The 22-year-old has been widely criticised for his displays under Thomas Frank. Pundit Jamie O’Hara even compared him to former Manchester United winger Antony, suggesting that Simons has yet to make a meaningful impact this season. However, much of the criticism has been premature. It is important to recognize that the young attacker is still adapting to the intensity of the Premier League and settling into a new environment. Naturally, he will require time before producing his best performances consistently. Xavi Simons needs to perform well against Manchester United Simons endured a turbulent week with Tottenham recently. Against Chelsea last weekend, he came on as an early substitute only to be withdrawn later in the same match. He struggled physically and could not impose himself. Yet he responded perfectly against Copenhagen, delivering one of his most assured performances for the club so far. John Wenham has now urged the youngster to build on that display and prove his worth against Manchester United this weekend. Speaking to Tottenham News, Wenham said, “Simons got a lot of confidence, obviously, and that continued in his game. We saw flicks, tricks – he could have finished with four assists in the first half. So, his confidence was very high.” The Lilywhite Rose owner added, “But against Man United, Bryan Mbeumo, Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, it’s a totally different task than what we saw against Copenhagen. Hopefully, he’s in form and confident and is now ready to go into the Man United game and deliver a similar performance.” It was clear to see that Simons was enjoying himself against Copenhagen in the Champions League. The Dutchman was afforded a lot of space in the middle of the park, something that is a rarity in the Premier League. And he also used this game against the Danish giants to build his confidence. But Wenham has now challenged the 22-year-old to perform in the same manner against an in-form Manchester United side. Facing United will be a significant test for the Spurs No.7 as he aims to carry his momentum into league action. Simons clearly possesses talent and potential, but he must now demonstrate consistency on the biggest stages. If he performs well, Tottenham stand a strong chance of securing a positive result this weekend.
