'People are dreaming'- French legend singles out Tottenham star for Chelsea no-show; calls out premature transfer

Former World Cup winner singles out Xavi Simons vs Chelsea

Xavi Simons, the £52million summer signing from RB Leipzig, has yet to make a mark at Spurs. There was hope that the Netherlands international would step up for the Lilywhites against their London rivals Chelsea, but he failed to step up again and deliver the goods. The 22-year-old’s display on Saturday exposed his weaknesses once more, as he failed to find any rhythm and got bullied off the ball multiple times.

The playmaker, apart from assisting once, has not been influential in the final third. He has been struggling with the pace and intensity of English football and was largely on the periphery against Enzo Maresca’s side. Criticising Xavi’s lack of impact after the game, 1998 World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf has slammed the Tottenham bosses for spending such a big fee on him after just one strong season in the Bundesliga.

“I just want to have a point on Xavi Simons, and some of the players who played one good year, for him for Leipzig, because that wasn’t the case for Paris Saint-Germain before, and had an average season last season,”- Frank Leboeuf said on ESPN FC.

“So, for £53 million for Tottenham you expect what? What do you expect from those players who have one good year of football? To be a game-changer? People are dreaming, dreamers. I don’t get that.”

Xavi under immense pressure

TalkSPORT pundit Jamie O’Hara compared Xavi to big-money Manchester United flop Antony, who is currently on loan at Real Betis, while former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor slammed the Tottenham playmaker for not offering anything during the Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle United last week. But, Xavi has found support from Kylian Mbappe recently, with the Real Madrid superstar backing him to “achieve everything” he wants at N17.

Regarded as one of the exciting playmakers in Europe, Xavi is still young and adapting to the pace, physicality and intensity of the Premier League, whilst getting used to Thomas Frank’s system at Tottenham. At 22, there remains time for him to turn things around in north London. Once the ex-PSG prodigy finds his rhythm and confidence in his performances, he’d be unstoppable for Frank’s side.

No doubt, Xavi must be feeling the heat from the fans, pundits and media after a slow start to life at Spurs. Next up for Tottenham is a Champions League encounter against FC Copenhagen, and Xavi will be desperate to prove himself in midweek.