Tottenham Hotspur claimed their first win of 2026 against Wolves on Saturday afternoon, but remain two points adrift of safety in their battle against relegation.
Roberto De Zerbi's side claimed their first win of his tenure at Molineux thanks to substitute Joao Palhinha's late goal, moving them up to 34 points from 34 games in the Premier League. But West Ham scored a 93rd-minute winner over Everton, maintaining their advantage in the race against the drop with just four games remaining of the campaign.
But while Spurs will be somewhat happy about their victory on the day, the team are likely to now be without star man Xavi Simons for the remainder of the season, and potentially may never see him in their shirt again.
Xavi Simons Suffers Serious Knee Injury
During the second half as Spurs pushed for a breakthrough, Netherlands international Xavi went down clutching his knee and screaming in agony after his foot jarred in the turf while he tried to cross the ball in.
Simons was visibly in pain, crying on the touchline before eventually being stretchered off the pitch and replaced. Early suggestions online are that he may have suffered an ACL injury, which would not only rule him out of the rest of the season and the World Cup, but also likely the majority of next season too.
His influence in the attacking midfield role has been instrumental for Spurs in recent weeks, and it's evident that he actually cares about the cause too, given his reaction to Brighton's late equaliser last weekend.
But he now can't help them to try and avoid relegation, and without him there is a huge issue on who the team can rely upon in that creative role, considering how little they have been able to score this season.
Xavi's Spurs Career is Surely Over
Tottenham's Premier League status is hanging by a thread currently, but with Simons now potentially facing a lengthy period out, it could well be the final time he ever plays for the club and under manager De Zerbi.
Relegation would mean the club need to get his hefty wages off their books, but finding a new club for him while he deals with a long-term injury will be incredibly difficult to do. But for a player with such a big reputation, it's almost impossible to consider the reality that he may be playing in the second tier once he returns to fitness.
If the worst scenario is confirmed and he has suffered an ACL injury, alongside Spurs getting relegated, then his career at the club is most likely over.