AliousIt has been a challenging campaign for Tottenham Hotspur, with their poor form dragging them into a serious relegation battle.
A number of players expected to step up have instead underperformed, with costly individual errors becoming a recurring theme throughout the season.
For many supporters, the club’s most impressive performer has not even been a senior figure, as young talent Archie Gray has earned widespread praise for his displays.
Van der Vaart questions Xavi Simons’ impact
Former Netherlands international Rafael van der Vaart has publicly criticised Spurs’ summer signing Xavi Simons, suggesting the midfielder has failed to live up to expectations.
Speaking on Ziggo Sport’s Rondo, as reported by De Telegraaf, Van der Vaart admitted he had anticipated much more from the 22-year-old.
“He disappoints me,” he said. “I expected a lot more. He’s trying so hard to prove how good he is, but that’s having the opposite effect.
“He was seen as a top young talent and everyone talked about him. He still plays a bit like that.”
Mixed performances raise concerns
While Simons has not been entirely ineffective and has shown flashes of quality, consistency has been an issue. One of his standout moments came in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg against Atlético Madrid, where he delivered an excellent display and scored twice.
However, his overall output this season—four goals and five assists in 38 appearances—falls well below his previous numbers at PSV Eindhoven and RB Leipzig.
Van der Vaart admitted he struggles to explain this dip in form, pointing to Simons’ strong performances in both the Netherlands and Germany.
“At Leipzig he was excellent. At Tottenham, it’s been nothing like that. After PSV, he also proved himself in the Bundesliga,” he added.
Gullit also unsure
Van der Vaart is not alone in his assessment. Dutch legend Ruud Gullit has also voiced uncertainty about Simons’ true level.
Reflecting on the midfielder’s potential, Gullit suggested that the hype surrounding him may not yet be fully justified.
“He is hyped. I still don’t really know how good he is,” he said.
Alious
