'He’s not unique'- Tottenham summer signing warned of familiar slippery slope amidst early N17 struggles

Fans are beginning to lose patience with the young attacker, with many calling for him to be benched for a few matches. Former Tottenham player Jamie O’Hara has even compared Simons to Manchester United flop Antony, claiming that the Spurs No.7 has not justified his hefty price tag and has failed to prove his worth at N17.

Tottenham star Xavi Simons struggling with the physical intensity of the Premier League?

Tottenham’s worst performance of the season came in their 1-0 defeat to local rivals Chelsea, a match in which several players underperformed. However, it was Xavi Simons who drew most of the criticism after being substituted in the second half for his poor display, despite having come on earlier in the game as a replacement for Lucas Bergvall.

Now, football analyst Kevin Hatchard has suggested that Simons is struggling to cope with the physical demands of the Premier League and needs to adapt quickly. Speaking on talkSPORT, Hatchard said,

“Xavi is an interesting one because you have seen time and time again him getting kicked out of the game. Like if you could disrupt his rhythm and if you could be physical with him, he doesn’t like it. A lot of the players don’t like it, he’s not unique to that.”

The football expert added,

“But I still think with him, you know, there are moments where you see the ‘Xavi’ that you know, and you see that he has got the creativity. But I think his battle is always to stay in the game because sometimes the body language can be a little bit, you know, he looks as though he could be kicked out of his rhythm.”

Hatchard believes Simons is still adapting to the intensity and physicality of English football, with opponents exploiting his smaller frame to knock him off balance and disrupt his flow. Although the Dutchman has displayed glimpses of his creativity, maintaining his influence throughout matches remains a challenge.

The onus is now on both Thomas Frank and Simons to find a solution before the situation worsens. The 22-year-old still has time to prove his worth at Tottenham, and fans appear willing to give him the benefit of the doubt as he adjusts to life in the Premier League. However, he will need to deliver consistent performances if he hopes to keep his place in Frank’s starting eleven.

It remains to be seen how Simons overcomes the challenges of adapting to English football. Supporters will hope he continues to get into dangerous positions and find space in the #10 role, as doing so could eventually help him break his goal drought and establish himself as a key figure for the Lilywhites as the season progresses.