Xavi Simons is beginning to feel the weight of expectation at Tottenham, with one journalist now insisting he is not the type of playmaker many believe him to be.
Adapting to life in the Premier League is never straightforward, and Tottenham Hotspur’s latest recruit, Xavi Simons, is finding that out already.
The Dutchman has endured a somewhat difficult start to his first campaign in England, registering just one assist so far despite arriving with high expectations.
The fixture against Leeds United marked his first start through the middle in the Premier League since completing his move, and Jermain Defoe described Simons’ display in that role as his most promising performance yet.
Journalist claims Xavi Simons will not be Tottenham’s playmaker
Journalist Suleyman Ozturk, speaking to Voetbal International, has now claimed that Simons is being misunderstood tactically, arguing that he is not a playmaker in the traditional sense.
The Dutchman was brought in primarily to cover for James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, both of whom have been sidelined with long-term injuries, leaving him tasked with filling a creative void in Tottenham’s attack.
“I also notice that, especially in the Netherlands, if an English newspaper reports that Xavi Simons is not playing well, it is immediately quoted on football websites,” Öztürk said.
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“He is an interesting player; he is one of our players we are keeping a close eye on. Because, of course, yes, there are many fellow club members, but these days everything is news.
“Do not forget that he was signed for a lot of money, of course. We are talking about the top of the Premier League. And then excelling in your first match is something only a few can do. You are talking about the Woltemades of this world. But Xavi Simons is incredibly young. He has a new manager, new teammates.
“And you also have to consider, what is Xavi Simons’ strength? And at Leipzig, at some point, the team was adjusted for him. But this is a completely different reality. And they expect him to have a bit of a Maddison-like role. But he is not Maddison. Maddison is a playmaker. Xavi Simons is not a playmaker or any other type of playmaker.
“And I think the coach still has to figure that out. You have, of course, the Ghanaian player who came from home and really plays like a shot. Kudus, yes. I think we need to give Xavi Simons time to make that adjustment to the Premier League where you really have much less time to think. And that takes some getting used to.”
Xavi’s adaptation and the road ahead at Spurs
Simons will need time to adapt to the pace and physicality of the Premier League, and Tottenham supporters must be patient as Thomas Frank works out how best to utilise his talents.
While there have been calls for Simons to be deployed centrally, it is worth noting that he has spent a greater part of his career playing from the left flank.
The 22-year-old has featured as a left winger more frequently than as an attacking midfielder, although the numbers suggest he is far more effective when operating through the middle.
In 51 appearances as an attacking midfielder, Simons has been directly involved in 40 goals, scoring 22 and assisting 18. On the left, he has contributed 18 goals and 18 assists in 61 appearances, while his output across other positions remains modest.