Xavi Simons is finally showing his true potential at Tottenham following a high-profile summer switch
Tottenham fans finally got to see what Xavi Simons had to offer for the Lilywhites after his impressive performance against Brighton. The Dutchman arrived at N17 during the business-end of the transfer window on a long-term deal. And many expected that the 22-year-old would instantly hit the ground running for the North London club under Thomas Frank.
However, the prolific attacker was slowly integrated into the side, with his debut coming against West Ham last week. He was not the standout player on the pitch against the Hammers by any means. But it is fair to say that Simons surely left a mark against Brighton in the following week. The 22-year-old’s cameo in the second-half proved to be decisive as Spurs came back from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw.
The Spurs No.7 was introduced in the second-half as he replaced Rodrigo Bentancur at the hour mark. And his introduction on the pitch shifted the tide completely towards Tottenham. The Dutchman was finally operating in the #10 role for the Lilywhites, a position that he thrives in. And Simons managed to make things happen by constantly getting on the ball and creating chances.
Tottenham star Xavi Simons’ positive impact has garnered praises from Thomas Frank
Tottenham star Xavi Simons was unlucky to not get on the scoresheet against Brighton in the Premier League. The Dutchman had two brilliant chances to level things up against the Seagulls, and he squandered both chances by getting the timing of his shots wrong. But that should not indicate that the 22-year-old had a poor game at the AMEX Stadium. In fact, Simons was one of the standout players on the pitch for the North London club.
Even Thomas Frank was full of praise for the impact the prolific attacker had on the game against Brighton. Speaking in his post-match presser, Frank said (as transcribed by Football.london),
“Yeah, I’m very, very pleased with that. I think Xavi came in and did exactly what we thought he could do in that 10 position. Of course, he had a good pre-season and he played two games in Germany and all that, but he’s still coming into a team and all that. And I think on any other day, he’d score a goal.”
Thomas Frank admitted that the Xavi Simons’ quality was clear to see in the #10 role against Brighton. The Danish tactician was also ‘pleased’ with the impact Simons made after coming on as a substitute. However, Frank pointed out that the Dutchman is still trying to find his way at N17 and will need time to perform consistently for the Lilywhites.
Fans will now hope that Thomas Frank opts to play Xavi Simons in the #10 role going forward, as that is where the Dutchman truly thrives. The 22-year-old must also look to build on this performance and help the club achieve their goals this season as they look to build on their Europa League success.