Sometimes football can be brutally humbling, and for Xavi Simons, Saturday night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was exactly that.
The 22-year-old midfielder, once seen as one of Europe’s brightest young stars, faced another setback during Tottenham’s defeat to Chelsea — a match that ended with him being subbed on and later subbed off.
Subbed On, Then Subbed Off
Simons had started the match on the bench, watching from the sidelines as Spurs took on their London rivals.
But when Lucas Bergvall suffered a head injury early on, manager Thomas Frank called upon the £52 million summer signing to fill in as a concussion substitute.
It was supposed to be his chance to make an impact. Instead, things went south quickly.
Struggling to find rhythm and already on a yellow card, Simons couldn’t impose himself in midfield.
By the 73rd minute, Frank decided to take him off, replacing him with Wilson Odobert.
The cameras caught Simons trudging off the pitch — head down, shoulders slumped — clearly frustrated and disappointed.
It was a tough sight for fans who had hoped this would be the game where everything clicked for him.
Chelsea Extend Their Dominance
Tottenham’s defeat only added to their growing frustrations against Chelsea, who seem to have their number.
Joao Pedro’s first-half strike in the 34th minute was all it took for Enzo Maresca’s men to seal a 1–0 win — their fifth consecutive victory over Spurs in the Premier League.
Despite pushing hard in the second half, Tottenham couldn’t break through Chelsea’s organised defence, leaving both players and supporters deflated at full-time.
Adjusting to Life in the Premier League
For Simons, this latest disappointment highlights just how difficult the transition to English football can be.
Much like Liverpool’s big-money signing Florian Wirtz, who also moved from the Bundesliga in the summer, Simons has struggled to adapt to the speed and intensity of the Premier League.
Neither 22-year-old has managed to score since arriving, despite the enormous expectations placed upon them.
Thomas Frank Still Sees Signs of Progress
Despite the scrutiny, Spurs manager Thomas Frank remains patient.
Speaking earlier in the week before Tottenham’s Champions League trip to Monaco, he compared Simons’ situation to Wirtz’s and urged fans to look at the bigger picture.
“It’s a very good comparison,” Frank said. “They’re both young players coming into a new country, new club, new city — they just need time to settle.
We’re all judged game by game, but there are glimpses of progress. Against Villa, I asked Xavi to get into the box more, and he did.
It wasn’t spectacular, but it was a step forward.”
Searching for a Breakthrough Moment
So far this season, Simons has played over 500 minutes across all competitions but is still waiting for his first goal in a Spurs shirt.
His only contribution so far came in his debut against West Ham, where his corner kick was headed in by Pape Matar Sarr for an assist.
It’s clear the talent is there — the spark that once made him one of the most sought-after young midfielders in Europe hasn’t vanished.
But until he finds consistency and confidence, Simons’ Premier League journey will remain a test of patience, both for him and for the fans who desperately want to see him shine.