Matt Le Tissier drops verdict on Tottenham axing Xavi Simons
Thomas Frank needs to stick by Xavi Simons despite his struggle for form in front of goal since he joined Tottenham from RB Leipzig in the summer.
That is according to Premier League legend Matt Le Tissier, who has exclusively told Football Insider that Xavi Simons is likely to continue in the Tottenham starting eleven as long as they keep picking up good results.
Tottenham beat Everton 3-0 away from home on Sunday (26 October) as a Micky van de Ven brace and Pape Sarr’s late strike saw them move up to third in the Premier League standings.
Xavi Simons joined Spurs from RB Leipzig in the summer window as Thomas Frank aimed to add some star quality and creative flair to his squad following injuries to James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.
The Netherlands international became one of the most highly-rated playmakers in the world during his time in the Bundesliga, but has struggled for form so far this season as he adapts to life in the Premier League.
Simons has not hit the heights at Tottenham so far
Simons notched 10 goals and six assists in 25 league appearances for Leipzig last term, but cited their failure to reach the Champions League as the main reason for wanting to depart in the summer.
He has been handed five starts in the six Premier League games he has been available for since joining Tottenham so far, yet has only registered one assist and is yet to score for his new club.
Frank has only included him in his starting line-up for one of Spurs’ three Champions League outings up to now too, and he was taken off on the hour mark against Everton last time out after another ineffective showing.
Frank has admitted this week that the 22-year-old is “still missing” that finishing touch, but “needs to keep going, keep building and keep working on it,” and he has been backed to stand by the playmaker through his rough patch of form.
Le Tissier thinks Simons will stay in the Tottenham team as long as they keep winning
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former England and Southampton striker backed Simons to keep his place in Spurs’ starting eleven rather than be dropped by Frank, as he has clear quality but needs more time to adapt from a physical standpoint.
He said: “I think as long as the results are okay, he’ll [Frank] give him [Simons] a chance just to prove himself.
“He’s come to a different league, and some players do take a little bit longer to adapt to that. Xavi Simons isn’t the most physical player. He’s not lightning quick, so it might take him a little bit of time to adjust.
“But I like him. I think he’s got good qualities, and I think he’s proven over the years he’s been a pretty decent player, so I don’t think they’ll drop him just yet.“