Micky van de Ven has reacted to the start that Xavi Simons has made to life at Tottenham Hotspur and has said that everyone has noticed something about his compatriot.
There was a lot of excitement about the attacking midfielder’s arrival at Spurs, but Tottenham fans are still waiting for the 22-year-old to announce his arrival with a statement performance.
Some believe that Xavi Simons’ struggles are due to Frank’s decision to use him out wide rather than centrally, but the Tottenham boss does not entirely agree.
Frank has insisted that Xavi can also shine on the half-spaces on the left and has admitted that his priority is to find the right balance for the midfield as a whole.
Micky van de Ven is convinced Xavi Simons will shine at Tottenham
Van de Ven knows the new Tottenham signing well from their time together in the Netherlands squad, and the defender believes that his international teammate has already shown glimpses of his creativity for the Lilywhites.
The centre-back said about his compatriot following the 2-2 draw with Bodo/Glimt (via Football.London): “He’s a really good player. He can create a lot of special things. I think you saw he came on and did really well. You can see the creativity he has.”
The former Wolfsburg defender admitted that he is doing his part to help Xavi settle into his new surroundings as quickly as possible.
Van de Ven added about the attacking midfielder: “I speak a lot with him, but what also helps him a lot is that he speaks a lot of languages, so he can get on with a lot of players as well. I try to help him on and off the pitch with every small detail he asks for. I’m there for him to help him as much as possible.”
Van de Ven was proud to captain Spurs against Bodo/Glimt
The centre-back was handed the captain’s armband against Bodo/Glimt in the absence of his defensive partner, Cristian Romero, and he certainly delivered a captain’s performance.
Thomas Frank has said that Van de Ven will be part of his leadership group at Tottenham, and the centre-back admitted that it was a dream to lead out the Lilywhites in a Champions League fixture.
When asked about Frank’s comments on the leadership group, the 24-year-old responded: “I don’t know about that, he hasn’t mentioned that yet, but it was a proud moment for me to lead the group out in a Champions League game. It’s a moment you dream of when you’re a kid. I’m happy I could help the team, and we got the point.
“To be honest, I went into the game the same as I always do. It’s not like there is some extra pressure on you. I just did what I needed to do and tried to help the team as much as possible.”