Tottenham Boss Thomas Frank Confident in Xavi Simons’ Potential to Excel

Thomas Frank, the manager of Tottenham Hotspur, has expressed confidence in the abilities of playmaker Xavi Simons. He described Simons as “fantastic” in recent training sessions, although he has not guaranteed the player a starting position in the upcoming match against Brentford.

Xavi Simons: A Challenging Start at Tottenham

Xavi Simons, a 22-year-old Netherlands international, joined Tottenham from RB Leipzig for £52 million ($69 million) in August. However, his transition to the Premier League has been challenging. In 18 appearances for Spurs, Simons has recorded only two assists. Despite this, he had recently shown signs of improvement before the November international break.

Recent Performance and Training

Frank noted that Simons has been adapting to the team’s demands and has demonstrated a good attitude during training. He stated, “Xavi has trained fantastic the last five or six times. I like that a lot.”

• Simons has made only two assists in his 18 appearances.
• He was benched for four consecutive games recently.
• During his time on the field, Tottenham secured six wins out of nine matches.

Tactical Decisions Impacting Simons

Frank has opted to use a two-striker system, featuring Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani, which has contributed to Simons being on the bench. He emphasized that the choice of line-ups is based on different scenarios and player forms:

“We played with two strikers against PSG, and both of them scored. We also scored 23 goals recently. I think that’s quite a fairly high amount,” he explained.

The Upcoming Match Against Brentford

Frank’s next match is against his former club, Brentford. This encounter is pivotal not only for Spurs but also for Frank, as the team has struggled recently. They have claimed victory in only three of their last 14 matches across all competitions.

Despite the recent loss to Fulham, which saw Spurs fall 2-1 at home, Frank is looking to uplift the team’s morale. His history with Brentford adds an emotional layer to this match. “It’s big credit to Brentford to promote from within,” he mentioned regarding his former colleague, Keith Andrews.

Conclusion

As Tottenham prepares for this crucial fixture, the focus remains on how Simons will fit into Frank’s tactical plans and whether he will reclaim a starting spot. The outcome of this match could have significant implications for Tottenham’s season moving forward.