Tottenham Hotspur fans are excited to see Xavi Simons in action, but the playmaker didn’t exactly shine for the Netherlands.
Levy departs his role with immediate effect as Tottenham embark on a new era.
On the pitch, Tottenham fans must wait until next weekend to see Xavi Simons make his Spurs debut.
Simons admitted being influenced by his sister when deciding to join Tottenham, as he completed his move last week.
Simons was presented as a Spurs player last weekend, and the international break means his first appearance could come against West Ham United next weekend.
Netherlands v Poland – FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier
Dutch media react to Xavi Simons display
Spurs fans were able to watch Simons on Thursday night, though, as he lined up for the Netherlands in their 1-1 draw with Poland.
Simons loves to play as a number 10 or cut in from the left flank, but neither of those roles are available with the Netherlands.
Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo started on the left side, with Manchester City’s Tijjani Reijnders operating as the number 10.
That meant Simons was forced to play on the right flank, and the Dutch media were not impressed with his display.
Voetbal International rated Simons at just 5.5 out of 10, while Voetbalzone went even lower with a 4 out of 10 rating.
Voetbal Primeur rated Simons at 5.5 out of 10 and explained their disappointment, suggesting that Simons was cutting inside so much that he was virtually a second striker – and not a particularly successful one.
‘Was supposed to be a right winger, but by cutting inside a lot, he effectively functioned as a second striker. That didn’t work out so well. Simons had little to no say in the matter,” they wrote.
Algemeen Dagblad went with a 5 out of 10 rating, suggesting that Simons failed to make an impact on the right flank.
“Spurs’ new signing had to make his mark this time on the right wing, replacing the injured Frimpong. Before halftime, he lost possession twice, giving Poland a counter-attack. His shot, delivered by Memphis Depay, also failed to make it 2-0. He was later substituted for Malen,” they wrote.
Xavi Simons should play a more familiar role for Tottenham Hotspur
Simons played out of position for the Netherlands, and while a player of his quality would have expected a more positive display, he will point to an unfamiliar role.
This will not go down as one of Simons’ finest nights, and he will look for a better display against Lithuania on Sunday.
Thomas Frank will be watching Simons closely in this international break and will surely know not to deploy him on the right flank.
Simons needs to play as a number 10 or even as a left-sided winger, where he can cut inside and cause problems in the final third.
Mohammed Kudus should claim the right-sided role, and Simons should look forward to playing a more natural role once his Tottenham career begins.
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