Tottenham Hotspur’s much-anticipated Champions League clash against AS Monaco is looming, but the bigger story swirling around North London isn’t just about European ambitions—it’s the ongoing adaptation struggles of marquee summer signing Xavi Simons. The Dutch attacking midfielder, brought in from RB Leipzig for a hefty fee—reported at between £51 million and £52 million—was meant to inject creativity and flair into a Spurs side desperate for fresh ideas in the final third. Instead, Simons finds himself under the microscope, with both pundits and his manager acknowledging the rocky start to his Premier League journey.
Simons’ arrival in North London was met with excitement. After all, Spurs’ creative engine room had been running on fumes, especially with injuries to key men like Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison. The 22-year-old Dutchman, earning around £195,000 a week, was tasked with filling that void. Yet, as of October 21, 2025, he’s managed just a single assist—coming on his debut in a win over West Ham United—and is still searching for his first goal in a Tottenham shirt. The numbers are stark: one assist, no goals, and a growing list of questions about his impact.
Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara didn’t mince words on Sky Sports, stating, “Xavi Simons, he ain’t started in a Tottenham shirt yet. He’s been miles off it, he needs to be better.” O’Hara’s blunt assessment echoes the frustration felt by many supporters, who expected Simons to hit the ground running. But is it all on the young Dutchman’s shoulders, or does the blame run deeper?
Manager Thomas Frank, who took the reins at Spurs following a tumultuous end to the previous campaign, has publicly backed his new signing. Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of the Monaco tie, Frank drew comparisons with Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz, another Bundesliga import struggling to adapt. “I think that’s a very good question. Also, a very good comparison with Wirtz, who is also a very good player, just like Xavi. A very good player coming into a couple of things—new country, new club, new city. You just need to settle in, and it is part of it. We are all getting judged every game. But we also need to see the little bit bigger perspective and see it over time.”
Frank’s patience is evident, but he’s also asked Simons to tweak his game. “I always look for glimpses and bits and pieces we are working at. So, for example, Xavi, I think there were some good bits. I worked with him and asked him to be more arriving in the box, which, when I looked back at the game, he did. Was there a big eye-catching moment? No, but there were good glimpses. So I think it’s constantly going a little bit in the right direction.”
Still, the stats tell a worrying tale. Tottenham, for all their sixth-place standing in the Premier League—just one point behind Liverpool and two off Manchester City—are overperforming in attack relative to their underlying numbers. They’ve scored 14 goals, ranking joint fourth with Liverpool and Bournemouth, but sit 13th for shots taken and 14th both for expected goals and chances created from open play. The creativity deficit is clear, and the midfield trio of Simons, Joao Palhinha, and Rodrigo Bentancur has come under scrutiny. In the recent defeat to Aston Villa, the three managed just one pass to striker Mathys Tel across the entire match—a glaring statistic that speaks volumes about the disconnect in Spurs’ buildup play.
The midfield conundrum isn’t lost on observers. Palhinha and Bentancur, while offering defensive solidity, have struggled to progress the ball into dangerous areas for Simons. The Dutchman has often found himself isolated, forced to drop deep or drift wide in search of possession. The result? A lack of rhythm and cohesion that’s stifling Tottenham’s attacking potential. As one analysis put it, Simons “played more passes to Djed Spence at left back than anyone else,” highlighting the lack of vertical thrust through the middle.
Injuries have certainly compounded the issue. With Maddison, Kulusevski, and Dominic Solanke all sidelined, Frank has had to juggle his options up front. Richarlison, who was on the bench against Villa, is expected to return to the starting lineup for the Monaco game, likely replacing Tel. In defense, Spurs will be without Cristian Romero (abductor strain) and Destiny Udogie (knee irritation), both confirmed absentees for the crucial European fixture. Kevin Danso and Spence are set to continue in the back line, adding to the sense of a patched-up squad navigating a demanding schedule.
Tottenham’s away form, however, offers a glimmer of hope. Under Frank, Spurs remain unbeaten on the road in all competitions this season, excluding a UEFA Super Cup defeat on neutral ground. The manager attributes this to a strong defensive foundation and aggressive pressing, explaining, “I think we’ve been extremely good in the foundation in football, in terms of we have a good base in the middle, low block and also very high. I think it’s very important that we probably have the most aggressive teams in the high pressure. And I think that’s a big part of why we are also quite good away from home.”
The Monaco side they face is in transition. Seventh in Ligue 1 and recently under new management—Sébastien Pocognoli replaced Adi Hütter earlier this month—Monaco have endured a rocky start to their Champions League campaign, taking just one point from their opening two matches. Former Spurs stalwart Eric Dier, now with Monaco, misses the reunion due to a hamstring injury, while Paul Pogba, another summer arrival, is still working his way back to fitness and has yet to feature this season.
For Tottenham, the Monaco tie is just the start of a pivotal run. After their European assignment, they face a daunting stretch in the Premier League: trips to Everton, then showdowns with Chelsea, Manchester United, and Arsenal, plus a crunch Carabao Cup tie at Newcastle and a Champions League home game against Copenhagen. The pressure is on Frank to find solutions—especially in midfield—before the season’s defining period unfolds.
As the Champions League fixture at Stade Louis II kicks off on October 22 at 8 pm (TNT Sports 3), all eyes will be on Simons. Can he find the spark that’s eluded him so far and silence the doubters? Or will Tottenham’s creative malaise continue to cast a shadow over their promising start? One thing’s for sure: with the stakes rising and the schedule intensifying, the time for excuses is running out.
For now, the Simons conundrum remains unresolved, but with patience from his manager and the support of his teammates, Spurs fans will be hoping their big-money signing can finally turn the corner—starting in Monaco.