Thomas Frank reveals why Xavi Simons did not start for Tottenham vs Arsenal or PSG
Thomas Frank has made an interesting admission about Xavi Simons’ lack of Tottenham game time as the Dutchman continues to adapt to the Premier League.
Out of the seven players that arrived through the door at Tottenham in the summer, Xavi was perhaps the signing that Spurs fans were most excited by.
However, he has made the least impact so far and has struggled to nail down a place in Frank’s starting eleven.
Some pundits have questioned whether Xavi is capable of coping with the pace and physicality of the Premier League, but the Tottenham boss is not concerned about the 22-year-old.
Thomas Frank hints other Tottenham players deserved to start over Xavi Simons
Frank is not worried about the Dutchman’s lack of impact at N17, insisting that he is still finding his feet in English football.
The Dane also spoke about his hesitation to start Xavi Simons, suggesting that other players were better suited to his game plan against Arsenal and PSG.
When asked why the £51m signing did not start the last two matches, Frank told Football.London: “Xavi has been fine. As we’ve seen with other players coming into the Premier League for the first time from other leagues, it’s not straightforward in any way. It’s a completely natural part of the development or adjustment to the league. Different games, different abilities.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about performance. No matter if it’s Xavi – what about Wilson [Odobert]? What about Mo [Kudus]? What about whatever player didn’t play [against PSG], Joao [Palhinha]. It’s different things. This is not about Xavi, it’s in general, this is about what you give to the team for any specific game.
“With the offense, no matter what type of player you are, do you give enough to the offensive part of the game? That means do you either play forward enough, do you create chances enough, do you use crosses? Whatever the position is, full-back, midfielder, winger.
“The defensive side of the game. Do you work hard enough? Do you win duels? Do you get on to the ball? Can you press with the intensity we want? And there is the set-pieces. Do you bring enough to the defensive ones? All that, that’s the reason we select players, how they can perform. And then there’s a little difference between playing Arsenal away and whatever, another team at home or PSG away.”
Frank admits Spurs will face a different challenge against Fulham
While the Dane chose to pack the midfield in Parc des Princes, he admitted that his side will face a different challenge against Marco Silva’s men this evening.
Tottenham will have to break down a more defensive-minded Fulham side, which is perhaps something Xavi’s skillset would be better suited for.
When asked if the Netherlands international could have a breakthrough performance against the Cottagers just as Randal Kolo Muani did against PSG, Frank responded: “Yeah, definitely could. That’s a combination of how do we break down opponents, how do we open them? Where are we as a team, how do we create enough chances because that’s a thing we’ve been thinking about. How do we get enough goalscorers on the pitch?
“[In Paris] it worked with two strikers. We are very aware that we are not the finished article at all. Before we are closer to what we want to be, maybe there is kind of a middle ground to go through to make sure we are arriving where we want to be.”
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