Tottenham Hotspur have a huge couple of weeks ahead of them in the Premier League, with relegation from England’s top-flight now becoming a distinct possibility.
The Lilywhites hierarchy made the decision to part company with Thomas Frank earlier this week, after a run of just two league wins out of the last 13 matches.
The hunt for a new manager has been ongoing over recent days, resulting in Igor Tudor agreeing to take the reins in North London on a deal until the end of the season.
He most recently managed Juventus between March and August last year, subsequently being brought into the Italian side to help steady the ship - something he’s no doubt been tasked with at Spurs.
However, his arrival could allow numerous players to capture their best form, with one player who’s yet to hit the heights now having the perfect opportunity to thrive under his guidance.
The stats behind Xavi Simons’ struggles at Spurs
Last summer’s transfer window ironically set the tone for Spurs this season, with the club missing out on the signatures of various attacking midfielders in their attempts to strengthen the squad.
The likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze rejected moves to join the Lilywhites, which resulted in Xavi Simons arriving from RB Leipzig for a fee in the region of £52m.
However, the Dutchman has struggled to match the expectations placed upon him by the supporters, as seen by his tally of two goals and five assists in his 31 outings across all competitions.
The 22-year-old was even sent off during the defeat to Liverpool back in December, but it’s his underlying stats which showcase his struggles in England’s top-flight.
He’s only managed to register 2.5 touches in the opposition box per 90, subsequently ranking him in the bottom 10% of all midfielders in the league this campaign.
Simons’ tally of 0.4 shots on target per 90 also highlights his struggles within attacking areas, which has no doubt seen him failed to emulate the levels he produced prior to his £52m move.
The Spurs star who could resurrect his career under Tudor
Tudor’s arrival at Spurs will likely see the side switch to a 3-5-2 formation, the system which the Croatian boss utilised frequently during his time at Juventus last year.
Such a system can vary, but the 47-year-old can utilise an attacking midfielder and two sitters at the heart of the side, which could be perfect for Simons in North London.
He could operate in a free role behind two centre forwards in the aforementioned formation, handing him a licence to be the creative outlet in the number ten role.
The Dutchman has showcased he’s able to thrive in a similar role, subsequently registering 19 combined goals and assists in such a position for Leipzig before his big-money switch last summer.
However, he’s not the only player who could benefit from the temporary manager’s arrival, with loanee Randal Kolo Muani a talent who has previously worked under Tudor before.
The Frenchman, who’s on loan from PSG, has massively struggled in North London this season, as seen by his measly tally of three goals and three assists in all competitions.
Considering his high-profile status upon arriving in England, having been part of the France side that reached the World Cup final in 2022, his recent woes ensure he must be considered Frank's worst signing of his time in charge.
Many tipped the forward to impress in the Premier League this season, especially after finding the net 10 times in his 22 appearances on loan at Juventus last season.
However, Kolo Muani managed to achieve such a feat under the guidance of soon-to-be temporary Spurs boss Tudor, which could hand him a fresh lease of life with the Lilywhites.
The Frenchman thrived in the manager’s two-striker system in Serie A, even carrying his incredible goalscoring record over to the Club World Cup last summer - netting two times in his four matches.
He also managed to find the back of the net every 145 minutes he featured for the Old Lady last season, with such a record the best he’s achieved in his professional career.
Other stats, such as a 54% shot on target accuracy rate and 0.6 goals scored per 90 highlight his incredible goalscoring ability under the Croatian boss - who clearly knows how to get the best out of him.
There’s no denying that Kolo Muani has struggled to hit the heights expected of him in England, but he still has bags of time to turn things around - especially upon Tudor’s arrival.
He’s showcased he’s capable of thriving in the 47-year-old’s system, which could allow the attacker to hit the ground running if given a chance in the weeks ahead.
If he can emulate such form and do so alongside £52m man Simons, the club would no doubt pull clear of the relegation zone and have a superb end to what’s been a dismal campaign.