Thomas Frank has been praised for the way that he has handled one particular Tottenham star in recent weeks.
The Dane has had a mixed start to his reign at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and he faced plenty of criticism after the recent defeat to Chelsea on home turf.
Frank’s Tottenham side bounced back with an excellent performance in midweek, as they saw off Copenhagen with a comfortable 4-0 victory in the Champions League.
There were plenty of positive signs for the boss in that display, not least the performance of one particular star who has had his struggles so far this term.
Xavi Simons shows the right attitude at Tottenham
Xavi Simons turned in a bright display for Tottenham against Copenhagen after a string of concerning performances in recent weeks.
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The Dutchman has needed time to adapt to English football after his move from RB Leipzig in the latter stages of the summer, and it hasn’t been a smooth transition for him at times.
He was substituted after coming on against Chelsea, but responded by notching an assist during the midweek win in European action.
Ex-Spurs scout Bryan King – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes that Simons has shown the right attitude since his arrival, and has praised Frank for the faith that he has shown in his new star.
“Any manager is always looking for players to show attitude, and Simons seems to have shown the right one, which was clear in his performance against Copenhagen,” King said.
“That’s what Frank has brought him in for; to stamp his authority on games, and it was the perfect game for him to do that. He was one of the Tottenham players who stood out.
“The manager has faith in him, he’s waited for him to hit that form that he knows he can hit, and he’s persevering with him. Simons is a good player.
“The only way Spurs will be able to get him to his best is by playing him in games, and that’s what Frank’s been doing, but people have been ready to criticise him for doing it.
“Frank has stood by him, and in that aspect, he’s shown pretty good management.”
Xavi Simons created more chances than any other player vs Copenhagen
Simons’ display for Tottenham in the Copenhagen victory was arguably his strongest since his arrival in North London.
The 22-year-old looked energetic, and showcased his excellent vision on several occasions throughout the game to create opportunities for his teammates.
Simons’ final tally of four chances created was more than any other player who featured in the game, and it was a major sign of what is to come from the former Barcelona academy star.
The Lilywhites haven’t seen the best of him so far, but that could soon be about to change if he takes some confidence from his latest display.