Even though he didn't start Xavi SImons in his first game as Tottenham Hotspur manager, Roberto De Zerbi had made it clear before he coached his first match that he is a big fan of the young Dutch playmaker and to expect big things from the former RB Leipzig and PSV man in a Spurs shirt.
Well, in his second game in charge, De Zerbi did start Simons, who was the best player on the pitch with a goal and an assist, unlucky not to have led Spurs to a victory over RDZ's former Premier League employers Brighton.
The Tottenham attacking midfielder has been worth the 60 million euros spent to sign him from Leipzig this past summer transfer window ahead of other interested big clubs like London rivals Chelsea. Most of Spurs wins this season have come with Simons on the pitch, while they rarely win when he is not in the starting lineup.
Roberto De Zerbi sees what Xavi Simons sees
And after the match against Brighton, Roberto De Zerbi had more kind words for the Barcelona academy product, even telling Tottenham Hotspur supporters to expect much bigger things from Simons going forward. De Zerbi highlighted how he is uniquely placed to be Simons's coach and get the most out of him, as he was once a No. 10 himself.
The Italian coach said, via the official Tottenham web site, âHeâs lucky to work with me - not because I'm good, because I was number 10. What he thinks now, I thought 20 years ago. So, we have a special connection. I have a special connection with all number 10s I work with. I love a number 10. A number 10 has to understand that he has to score and he has to make assists, not just play to be nice to the people â goals and assists. He played very well [against Brighton], a great game. I think he can play better and better, because a player like this, he needs to feel confidence from the manager, and I stay here to transfer all the confidence he needs, because I was a player, I was number 10, and I think I know what he thinks, because I thought the same when I was a player. I think I'm lucky to have this player on my team, but also he's lucky because with number 10, I can understand better than other coaches."
Now that is high praise indeed. Tottenham also needed a manager like De Zerbi and unlike Thomas Frank who can think like the creative players and the stars of the team and know what it is like to be in their shoes as players.
So often, Xavi Simons suffered under Frank because he did not have the right outlets to pass it to or the ability to pick up the ball in dangerous areas. De Zerbi understands what Simons needs tactically and how to best help him be in positions where he can excel, and Tottenham fans should be very excited about this going forward.