HOW MUCH CAN XAVI SIMONS IMPACT THE EPL?

Perhaps that failed rabona attempt was all most observers noticed from Xavi Simons’ third Premier League start of the season, a brief display of confidence that did not quite materialise, as Spurs defeated Leeds to move into third place with 14 points from a possible 21. In many ways, this moment captures both the promise and inconsistency seen in Spurs’ campaign so far. Much like the team itself, many analysts suggest that neither Xavi nor Spurs have reached their full rhythm this season. The talented 22-year-old has contributed to just one goal so far, an assist from a corner during Spurs’ 3–0 victory over Graham Potter’s West Ham.

Following the Leeds fixture, and despite the positive result, the prevailing narrative surrounding Thomas Frank’s side remained largely unchanged. However, a closer analysis of Xavi’s performance suggests he may have begun to shift some of those perceptions. His display offered valuable insight into the underlying causes of Spurs’ tactical inefficiencies, particularly in their build-up play, use of creative players, and the potential impact the La Masia graduate could have when deployed in a role that accentuates his technical and spatial strengths.

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Unreachable in the 1st phase:

Earlier in the season, Spurs found it difficult to build play from the back and progress centrally through the thirds. Their 1–0 home defeat to Bournemouth serves as a clear example of this issue. Much of the discussion has centred on Thomas Frank’s dependence on wide progression, as well as the suitability of Bentancur and Palhinha in a system designed to control possession. At present, the evidence suggests that balance has not yet been achieved, as Frank’s side continues to fall short of dominating matches in the way many anticipated. Xavi Simons could represent a potential solution, given that he is arguably Spurs’ most technical and creative midfielder.

When analysing the starting lineup against Leeds, it would be reasonable to expect Simons to operate in a free-roaming number 10 role, positioned ahead of a double pivot featuring Palhinha and Bentancur, with Kudus and Odobert providing width on either side. This structure should, in theory, have enabled Simons to take up positions that increased his involvement in possession, allowing his passing range and press resistance to help Frank resolve Spurs’ build-up limitations.

However, although his starting position and heat map appear to suggest this dynamic was in place, the reality on the pitch tells a different story.

Xavi did, in fact, operate from deeper positions, particularly during Spurs’ build-up phases from goal kicks. Frank structured his backline to stretch the pitch, with Vicario positioned centrally between the two centre-backs. Bentancur and Palhinha formed the double pivot, while Simons dropped into the left half-space, occupying a slightly higher and wider position relative to the other midfielders.

However, because Spurs concentrated much of their build-up play down the right-hand side, as illustrated in the passing map below, Simons’ positioning limited his involvement more than intended. Leeds applied consistent pressure on Porro and Romero, allowing them minimal time and space in possession. This disrupted Spurs’ ability to switch play effectively and reduced the frequency with which Simons could be found in advantageous positions.

The majority of Xavi’s touches in those deeper areas occurred during periods of settled possession, when Spurs were attempting to circulate the ball and identify openings within Leeds’ structure. This raises a key question: what might have unfolded had Spurs been able to involve Simons more frequently during the initial build-up phase?

The following sequence was likely the only instance in which Simons received possession during the deep build-up phase. This occurred primarily due to Kudus’ ability to retain the ball under pressure before switching play back to Van de Ven, who then located Simons. From that point, the Dutch international initiated what could be described as an artificial transition, exploiting the space that emerged after Leeds committed players to the opposite flank. This moment illustrates why Frank should aim to create such scenarios more frequently for Simons, as they emphasise his effectiveness in transitional phases of play.

Transition Threat Without Pace?

While Xavi possesses above-average speed, he is not as rapid as Odobert or Kudus, and therefore cannot always serve as a consistent outlet during transitions. Nevertheless, his threat in these moments stems from his two-footed ability, particularly when dribbling, and from his composure in decision-making. These qualities allow him to outmanoeuvre opponents despite lacking the same level of physical explosiveness. For example, his capacity to win possession using either foot in this instance enabled him to escape pressure. However, with limited support around him, he was forced to retain the ball and slow the tempo of play.

In the second half, there was another transition-based sequence that demonstrated Simons’ potential influence. He timed his movement intelligently, running in behind his marker as the ball was played to Odobert, which allowed him to receive possession in significant space. It could be argued that Simons should have released an earlier pass to Tell in behind; instead, he waited for Kudus to advance into position, which temporarily slowed the counter-attack. However, what followed moments later highlighted another of his key strengths.

The Long-Lost Art of the Number 10

Final-third creativity remains a highly sought-after quality in modern football, particularly in an era dominated by transitional play and compact low defensive blocks. One area in which Simons undeniably excels is his capacity to unlock these structures. Continuing from the previous sequence, he executed an exceptional scooped pass to Porro that effectively removed three defenders from the phase of play. Unfortunately, the Spaniard appeared momentarily surprised by the ingenuity of the pass, failing to make clean contact and consequently missing the opportunity to deliver a quality cross.

That was not the only occasion on which Xavi demonstrated his creative instincts. During the first half, he played Udogie through after momentarily drawing the Leeds defenders out of position with a piece of intelligent footwork. He then followed it with a precisely weighted pass that split the defensive line and released the Italian into space.

And once again, he demonstrated the same ability to find solutions, this time producing an outside-of-the-foot pass towards Odobert. The move eventually led to Tell’s header that struck the crossbar in the final minutes of the first half.

To execute passes of this quality, regardless of technical ability, a player must be able to receive the ball with both space and time. The key question, then, is how Simons consistently manages to position himself in such advantageous areas.

Master Manipulator

This brings us to another of Simons’ standout qualities, one that directly contributed to Spurs’ second and decisive goal. The ability to find time and space to break through defensive lines is rarely accidental; it stems from intelligent off-ball movement and positional awareness. Simons excels at identifying and occupying space, whether by attacking defenders’ blind sides, making deep runs, or dropping deeper to support progression. While perhaps not yet at the level of his former Bundesliga colleague Florian Wirtz, he demonstrates enough spatial intelligence to consistently create opportunities for both himself and his teammates.

What Simons appears to be mastering, is the art of manipulating opposition players. In this particular instance, he evaded his initial marker before occupying Ampadu. Although Odobert carried much of the responsibility by retaining possession, freeing himself, and delivering the pass to Udogie, it was Simons’ intelligent movement that enabled the left-back to exploit the open space.

In the second half, Simons produced a similar action that led to Kudus scoring a second goal and ultimately securing another crucial three points for Frank’s side. Rather than remaining in the left half-space, as he had for most of the match, Simons drifted towards the right-hand side. This movement pulled Ampadu out of position and simultaneously drew Okafor’s attention. As a result, Okafor attempted to block the passing lane into Simons, which in turn opened the passing lane towards Kudus and left him isolated in a one-versus-one situation, with Ampadu unable to provide defensive cover.

While Xavi Simons may not have produced the most eye-catching start to his Premier League career, the indicators of his potential contribution are already evident. The match against Leeds once again exposed Spurs’ ongoing structural challenges while also illustrating how Simons could serve as part of the solution rather than the problem. His positional intelligence, spatial awareness, and technical versatility make him a distinctive presence within this Spurs side, one capable of enhancing their build-up efficiency and adding a new dimension of creativity in the final third.

There remain areas for improvement, particularly in how the team connects with him during build-up phases and transitional moments. The key question is whether Thomas Frank intends to utilise Simons in that manner. What is clear, however, is that when he is integrated effectively, Spurs appear more fluid and unpredictable. As Frank continues to seek equilibrium between control and verticality, Simons could prove to be the catalyst that enables both.

The foundations are already in place; what remains is the development of consistency. Once that arrives, we may finally witness the version of Xavi Simons that La Masia envisioned and the Premier League has been anticipating.