Thomas Frank has shared his verdict on Xavi Simons after handing the Dutchman his Tottenham debut against West Ham United, and the new Spurs boss seemed quietly impressed by what he saw.
Thomas Frank wasted little time easing Xavi Simons into his Tottenham squad, with the Dane throwing the Dutchman right into the deep end against West Ham United at the London Stadium.
Simons, in turn, repaid the faith the manager showed in him, grabbing an assist for Tottenham’s opening goal from a corner, which Pape Matar Sarr headed in.
The 22-year-old got a solid 70 minutes under his belt on his debut, and while he took some time to get into the game, it was ultimately a debut to be proud of.
Thomas Frank gives verdict on Xavi Simons after Tottenham debut
When asked for his thoughts on the midfielder’s first outing in a Tottenham shirt, Thomas Frank admitted he was encouraged by what he had seen.
Speaking to football.london, the Spurs boss said Simons had shown initiative and quality in possession, while also contributing defensively.
Frank said: “I think he was promising. I liked what I saw from him. I liked that he took initiative on the ball. Every single time he had the ball he tried to create something.
“And I think he had a wonderful assist for the first goal from a corner. Worked hard as well. I think it was a good first game.”
Tottenham fans react to Xavi Simons debut
Tottenham fans have also been left pleased with Xavi Simons’ debut performance, with many of them describing his display as “excellent” and noting how quickly he made an impact.
There is room for improvement, and as time goes on, Simons will only grow stronger as he adapts to the pace and physicality of the Premier League.
The expectations are high for the Dutchman, who now comes in as Tottenham’s number seven, a shirt once worn with distinction by club legend Heung-min Son, but if debuts are anything to go by, the early signs are certainly encouraging.