Xavi Simons “doesn’t have the physicality” for the Premier League. And that’s why he’s struggling so much at Tottenham Hotspur.
That’s according to analyst Valentijn Driessen, relayed by FC Update, who has criticised the Tottenham summer signing.
Simons joined Tottenham from RB Leipzig this summer in a €60m deal. There are add-ons to take that fee higher.
The Dutchman was brought in to replace James Maddison after his unfortunate injury during pre-season. That’s yet to happen, though, with the forward enduring a difficult start to life at Tottenham so far. His current record stands at one goal and zero assists in 12 games so far.
He hit something of a low point on Saturday in Tottenham’s defeat to Chelsea. He was brought on as a substitute early in that game, but played a key role in Chelsea’s winning goal thanks to a poor pass back to Micky van de Ven.
A poor performance followed, before he was then substituted offer in the 73rd of the game. He had come on in the seventh minute.
At this point, it appears he’s yet to adapt to life in the Premier League, and Derksen thinks it’s a physicality issue. That’s something which has already been questioned in recent months.
“It’s also sad that you’re called on as a substitute and then taken off again after seventy minutes,” he said.
“You should have expected that. He doesn’t have the physicality for the Premier League.”
Fellow analyst René van der Gijp, meanwhile, wonders if the Tottenham man is questioning his choices at this point.
“Do you think Xavi Simons comes home in the evening and says to his wife: ‘That running with the ball isn’t very clever? Let’s see if I can think of something else.’ Or that his wife says: ‘You shouldn’t be running with the ball.’”