Xavi Simons scored in the Premier League for Tottenham Hotspur for the first time since December in the 2-2 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Since the Dutchman had last scored a goal in the top-flight, Spurs sacked Thomas Frank, appointed Igor Tudor, sacked Tudor, appointed Roberto De Zerbi, and lost a game under De Zerbi.
The Lilywhites paid £52m to sign the attacking midfielder from RB Leipzig last summer to bolster Frank’s squad, but he only scored one Premier League goal for the Danish coach.
Xavi will know that his output this season has not been good enough for Spurs in the top-flight, given the money that was splashed out on his services last summer.
However, the managerial choices by the club prior to De Zerbi’s arrival did not do him any favours, and he can now look to finally kick on in North London.
How Roberto De Zerbi has unlocked Xavi Simons for Spurs
Frank and Tudor’s pragmatic styles of management did not suit a mercurial, possession-based, playmaker like Xavi because he needs to be fed the ball between the lines and to have plenty of movement around him.
Playing him as a touchline winger or playing him in midfield and watching long balls fly over his head for 90 minutes was never going to get the best out of the Dutch talent.
De Zerbi has come in, though, and immediately looked to deploy a possession-based system with Xavi coming in off the left to take up central positions and combine with the other attackers in the team, allowing his technical ability to shine through.
The Netherlands international scored a stunning goal from distance and assisted Pedro Porro with a delightful pass in the 2-2 draw with Brighton, as Spurs benefitted from getting him on the ball in central areas, which is a credit to De Zerbi and his coaching.
Spurs already have another Xavi Simons in the making
Having seen how quickly the Italian head coach has got Xavi firing in North London, the former Brighton boss should unleash one of the club’s academy talents.
Luca Williams-Barnett has been in sublime form for the club at academy level and could help to fire the first-team to safety in the Premier League as Xavi 2.0 in the remaining five matches.
|
Williams-Barnett (25/26) |
U21 PL |
UEFA Youth League |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
10 |
6 |
|
Minutes |
795 |
452 |
|
Goals |
6 |
7 |
|
Minutes per goal |
132 |
64 |
|
Assists |
5 |
2 |
The England U18 international has produced 13 goals and seven assists in 16 appearances for Spurs in the U21 Premier League and the UEFA Youth League so far this season.
He has made the bench for the first-team on six occasions in the Premier League, without coming on, which shows that he has been under consideration by previous head coaches at Spurs.
De Zerbi must, now, unleash the 17-year-old whiz in the final games of this season in the top-flight because his form at youth level suggests that he could have the spark that the Lilywhites need to avoid the drop.
Williams-Barnett also scored 20 goals and provided 12 assists in 23 academy games in the 2024/25 campaign for Spurs at U18 and U21 level, which shows that his exceptional form in front of goal this term is not a flash in the pan.
The England youth international has consistently shown that he can impact matches at youth level with goals and assists on a regular basis, and he has taken that form over to England camps.
Williams-Barnett scored two goals and created three ‘big chances’ in four starts at the U17 World Cup for England last year, whilst he has also scored two goals in three caps for England at U18 level.
Like Xavi, the English youngster is a technically brilliant attacking midfielder who thrives with the ball at his feet in pockets of space, driving at the defence to score and create goals for his team.
That suggests that he would also thrive in De Zerbi’s current Spurs set-up in the same way that Xavi did against Brighton, which is why Williams-Barnett should be given a chance in the first-team in the coming weeks.
The teenage sensation’s ability to score and create goals could be priceless for Spurs if he can make the step up to senior football, as he could provide contributions that ultimately keep the team in the Premier League.
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