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Thomas Frank has explained why the criticism levelled at one Tottenham star has gone overboard despite obvious positive signs.
Out of the seven signings that Tottenham made in the summer transfer window, Xavi Simons was arguably the arrival that the supporters were most excited about.
However, the Dutch playmaker has failed to hit the ground running at North London and has looked a little off pace so far.
Some pundits are already writing off Xavi as a flop in the Premier League, but Thomas Frank has now hit back against those claims.
Thomas Frank is confident Xavi Simons will thrive at Tottenham
The Spurs head coach is seemingly still trying to find the best role for the 22-year-old in his system, having tried him on the left wing and in the number ten role.
Frank has now asserted that he is confident Xavi will come good, suggesting it is unfair to lay Tottenham’s lack of fluidity going forward solely on the former RB Leipzig man’s feet.
When asked about the £52m summer signing, the Spurs head coach said (via Football.London): “I’m in no doubt that Xavi will perform very well for us. That is down to him, me, the team, to everyone to get it done. The one thing you don’t have in football is time, but it will take time. It’s completely natural. Sometimes we can’t talk about processes and time, but the reality is you need it, everyone needs it. I’m confident, I’m sure it will happen.
“It’s probably too much to put everything on Xavi in terms of when he’s clicking then the team is just free-floating. When this team was clicking well in the last two seasons it definitely involved, most likely, Maddison, Kulusevski and Son at the same time.
“Dom [Solanke] came to the club last year for the first time, as I remember. So those three on the pitch at the same time gave the team a lift. So that’s why it cannot be on one player, in my opinion, it needs to be on three to four to get the team clicking.
“But I also understand that there are some players who need to add more to get the team free-floating and in that case, Xavi is definitely one of the players that needs to do that.”
Frank sees promising signings with Xavi
The Spurs boss revealed that he is seeing progress from the versatile attacker as he adjusts to the demands of the Premier League.
Frank remarked that the only thing missing for Xavi right now is the final pass, admitting that he is pleased with the areas that the youngster is getting into.
The Danish coach added about the Dutchman: “He is taking steps forward. He’s getting into the right areas, and now it’s just the last decisive pass and action that can make the difference. His fitness is growing, his intensity is growing. He’s come to a country where you need to train with high intensity. It’s a league which plays with high intensity, and I’m asking him to work harder.
“Then he comes into our team, where we are finding our way together. Even though he’s quite an experienced 22-year-old, he’s still coming to a new country. I think it’s very normal, but I’m sitting down with him, I’m evaluating him, and he is taking steps forward.”
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