Just arrived in the Premier League, Xavi Simons has been criticized for being ineffective.

Coach Thomas Frank acknowledged that Xavi Simons has not lived up to expectations as the number 10.

Tottenham continued to disappoint in the Premier League by drawing 1-1 at home against Wolves, the team currently at the bottom of the table. The match was only salvaged by Joao Palhinha’s injury-time goal, but overall, Thomas Frank’s team’s performance was considered unconvincing.

One notable highlight was the experiment of using Xavi Simons in the number 10 position. The Dutch star, expected to bring creativity to Spurs’ attack, failed to make a difference. After the match, coach Thomas Frank candidly admitted: “When we played Xavi as the number 10 today, things didn’t really work out. But I also think it wasn’t entirely his fault; the whole team lacked cohesion in the last 35 minutes.”

Simons started the match on the left wing but made no significant impact in the first half. At the 60th minute, he was moved to the center in an attempt to boost the attack. However, this change was ineffective, and eventually, Simons was substituted for Pape Matar Sarr despite Tottenham’s urgent need for a goal.

Coach Frank stated he still believes in his player’s potential: “Xavi made some good plays, even forcing opponents to commit fouls multiple times. But it’s true that in many situations he lacked sharpness. I think Xavi himself would admit that. It’s important to remember that he is a player who just joined a new team and a new league, so immediately finding rhythm is very difficult.”

Previously, Simons was tested in the number 10 position during the Carabao Cup match against Doncaster. However, in the Premier League, he has mainly been deployed on the left wing. When asked if limiting his central role was because Simons hadn’t adapted to the pace of English football, Frank denied it: “No, I don’t think so. It’s just about team balance and finding the best formula. I know very well that Xavi can definitely play as a number 10.”

The Danish coach also emphasized that he must carefully consider how to utilize the good form of other players: “Both Rodri and Joao Palhinha have performed very well since the start of the season, and Lucas has been excellent. You want to keep the players who are in the best shape on the field.”

Although protected by the coach, clearly Simons still needs more time to prove his worth in the Premier League. The patience from the coaching staff combined with his personal efforts will determine whether he can quickly integrate and become the creative core for Tottenham or continue to be a disappointment to the fans.