Will Tottenham Hotspur drop misfiring summer signing vs Chelsea?- Fabrizio Romano weighs in

Tactical and structural issues, not effort or talent, explain Xavi Simons’ struggles. Frank’s system often isolates him between the lines and cuts off his service from midfield. The double pivot of Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha provides defensive stability but slows down the team’s forward movement.

This cautious approach stops the Dutch attacking midfielder from receiving the quick vertical passes he depends on and forces him to play short, safe balls instead of breaking through defensive lines. The 22-year-old’s confidence, once high during his time in Germany, has dropped. He hesitates to take risks because he knows turnovers could expose Spurs defensively.

Tottenham’s heavy use of the wings worsens this problem. Mohammed Kudus and Brennan Johnson dominate the attacking focus, while Simons often watches the play move away from him. The system’s reliance on crosses removes chances for central creativity, and without James Maddison, that responsibility falls unfairly on Simons.

What’s the fix?

To fix this, Frank must give Simons control of the central attacking role. He needs teammates making forward runs and midfielders brave enough to attempt riskier passes. If Tottenham continue with this conservative setup, they will waste one of Europe’s most inventive young players.

Against Chelsea, Simons must have the freedom to drift centrally, link play, and exploit spaces behind their midfield press. Spurs need his intelligence, movement, and courage on the ball.

This match could define his story in north London. Frank’s willingness to adjust will decide whether Tottenham’s big summer signing becomes their creative engine or fades into another unrealised promise. It seems likely that Frank will drop him for now, which could delay his full integration into the squad.