After a difficult spell since arriving at Tottenham, Xavi Simons‘ latest display suggests the Dutchman is beginning to find his rhythm in Thomas Frank’s side.
Life in England has not exactly been smooth sailing for Xavi Simons, who has struggled to make a real impact in N17 since his summer move.
However, on Tuesday night against Copenhagen, the Dutch midfielder finally showed glimpses of the quality that made Tottenham move for him in the first place.
Before that clash, Simons had managed just one assist from his first 12 appearances for Spurs and had been subbed off late in the second half during Tottenham’s last outing against Chelsea, despite coming on after only seven minutes.
It has been a slow start to life in the Premier League, but his Champions League performance hinted at a turning point.
Tottenham midfielder Xavi Simons shows improvement against Copenhagen
Despite the rocky start to his Tottenham career, the underlying numbers from the Champions League win against Copenhagen show that Xavi Simons is beginning to find his feet in N17.
According to FotMob, no player on the pitch created more chances than Simons, who registered four key passes across the game.
The Dutchman also grabbed an assist, managed one shot, and completed 32 out of 36 passes with an impressive 89 per cent accuracy.
Beyond his passing and creativity, Simons was active across the pitch, showing determination in duels and sharp decision-making in the final third. His all-round contribution was reflected in the statistics below.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Touches | 49 |
| Touches in opposition box | 2 |
| Successful dribbles | 2/2 (100%) |
| Passes into final third | 3 |
| Accurate crosses | 1/1 (100%) |
| Accurate long balls | 1/1 (100%) |
| Dispossessed | 1 |
| Ground duels won | 4/5 (80%) |
Xavi Simons gaining confidence ahead of Manchester United clash
Simons did not get to play the entire ninety minutes, as he was subbed off following Brennan Johnson’s red card, which forced Thomas Frank to reshuffle his side.
While he may have been frustrated to come off early, he can take plenty of positives from his display against the Danish champions.
The midfielder was named UEFA’s Player of the Match for his efforts, a recognition that will no doubt boost his confidence heading into the weekend’s fixture against Manchester United.