Tottenham have endured a ‘stop–start’ campaign under Thomas Frank this season. The Lilywhites have struggled for consistency, with several new arrivals still adjusting to the demands of the Premier League. Frank himself has come under pressure to steady the ship in domestic competitions as the club looks to build on last season’s Europa League success.
Among the summer signings, Mohammed Kudus and João Palhinha have quickly established themselves as key figures. But one player who has faced heavy criticism for a slow start is Xavi Simons. The Dutchman initially struggled to impose himself at N17, in large parts due to being deployed out of position during the early weeks of the campaign.
The 22-year-old has also been benched on multiple occasions as Frank searched for solutions. Just last month, Simons found himself left out of the starting XI for four consecutive matches, leading many to believe the manager had lost faith in the highly rated attacker. However, credit must be given where it’s due. Simons has answered his critics emphatically, registering two goals and an assist across his last two appearances.
Tottenham consistently look more dangerous with Simons on the pitch. His intelligent movement, ability to find pockets of space, and sharp link-up play make him one of the side’s most influential creative outlets alongside Mohammed Kudus. It is increasingly evident that much of Spurs’ attacking progression flows through the duo.
Given his recent performances, supporters are now calling for Simons to start regularly… and they may get their wish. A striking statistic surfaced after Spurs’ dominant 3–0 win over Slavia Prague in the Champions League, a match in which Simons scored for the second consecutive game.
According to Jake Sanders (via X), all eight of Tottenham’s victories in all competitions since Simons joined the club have come when the Dutchman was named in the starting lineup. This underlines just how crucial he has become to Thomas Frank’s system.
All eight of Tottenham's wins in all comps since Xavi Simons signed have been with him in the starting XI.
— Jake Sanders (@JakeSanders92) December 9, 2025
With a demanding run of fixtures ahead, Frank will be eager for Simons to maintain his momentum and help Spurs keep pace with their rivals both domestically and in Europe. The Dutchman has now scored in back-to-back games, and the challenge for him is to build consistency as the season intensifies.
Whether he can lead the club to further success remains to be seen. For now, Simons must continue taking each match as it comes and focus on cementing his role under Frank as Tottenham aim to push forward from last season’s achievements. If he continues producing at this level, there is every chance he could carve out his own legacy at N17.
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