Xavi Simons, the £52 million signing from RB Leipzig, is facing a make-or-break moment for his Tottenham Hotspur career. With seven games left in the season, the 22-year-old Dutchman has yet to live up to the hype, scoring just five goals and providing six assists in all competitions. This underperformance is a stark contrast to the expectations that surrounded his arrival in the Premier League, where he was tipped to shine with his creativity and flair.
The constant managerial changes at Tottenham have not helped Simons' settling process. Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor, the first two managers of the campaign, failed to unlock his potential, and he found himself in and out of the starting XI. Now, with Roberto De Zerbi at the helm, the Italian manager is seen as the key to unlocking Simons' playmaking abilities. De Zerbi's attack-minded 4-2-3-1 formation is believed to suit Simons' preferred No.10 role, allowing him to operate with more freedom and creativity.
Abbi Summers, a fan and presenter, believes that De Zerbi is the right man to get the best out of Simons. She highlights the importance of position and playing style, stating that Simons needs to start in the number ten role to provide and contribute. This is a stark warning to Simons, as Summers believes that if he cannot perform under De Zerbi, he won't succeed anywhere else. The pressure is on, especially with Tottenham's dire form, currently sitting 17th in the Premier League table and battling to avoid relegation.
The upcoming seven-game run-in is crucial for Tottenham and Simons alike. The team faces Sunderland, Brighton, Wolves, Aston Villa, Leeds, Chelsea, and Everton in quick succession. With just two of these fixtures coming against direct relegation rivals, the odds are stacked against Tottenham. Sonny Snelling, a fellow panellist, predicts a bleak outcome, backing Tottenham to take just nine points from the remaining 21, which would leave them on 39 points, still in danger of relegation.
The Inside Spurs panel on talkSPORT believes that De Zerbi is the key to Tottenham's survival, and it's now or never for Simons to prove his worth. The young Dutchman has the opportunity to make his mark and save his Tottenham career, but the pressure is on, and the clock is ticking.
