THOMAS FRANK GETS RELIEF: XAVI SIMONS DELIVERS FIRST GOAL IN 19 GAMES
Xavi Simons repaid his massive fee with a crucial goal and assist in Tottenham's 2-0 win over Brentford. His brilliant performance ends Spurs' winless streak and boosts confidence.
Xavi Simons came to Tottenham with high expectations, thanks to his £52 million price tag and time at Barcelona's academy, Paris Saint-Germain, and RB Leipzig.
Spurs fans hoped he'd be the creative spark they missed while James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski were injured. But then, he played 18 games without scoring, spending a month mostly on the bench.
So, his goal and assist in the much-needed win against Brentford, along with his energetic performance, were a huge relief for him and Thomas Frank.
This will probably win Simons over with the fans, who are eager for someone to fill the roles of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min.
Simons still has a lot to prove before he can be considered at their level.
He has shone before in a Champions League game against a weaker team, and Brentford wasn't much better than Copenhagen in this match.
Xavi Simons scored Tottenham's second goal in their crucial win against Brentford.
Simons celebrates his goal—his first since joining from RB Leipzig this summer.
Still, Spurs really need him to play with confidence. They need his creativity. And this game felt like a step forward for him and Frank, who celebrated after the win, which ended a five-game winless streak since beating Copenhagen.
Simons was in the starting lineup for the first time since the draw with Manchester United in early November, and his presence gave Spurs the creative edge around the box they had been missing.
His first attempts were wild shots, but he kept trying. His run down the right wing in the first half led to Richarlison's opening goal.
Simons got a pass from Pedro Porro and sent a great low cross behind the defence, which Richarlison met with his left foot to score his fourth goal in six games.
Frank’s team controlled the first half, and the second half was all about Simons. He lost the ball in his own half, and Brentford attacked, but Spurs quickly won it back. Simons took off with the ball, and Yehor Yarmoliuk chased him without getting close enough to tackle. Simons waited for the right moment and beat Caoimhin Kelleher with a low shot.
Richarlison scores with a strong shot in the 25th minute.
He jumped onto the advertising boards to celebrate his first Spurs goal with his classic telephone call gesture.
Relief spread through the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. They haven't had many good Premier League games at home recently. They've played better in Europe, but they had only won three league games this year before Brentford arrived.
But Spurs dominated this game, though they were anxious at first because Brentford is dangerous on the counter and from set pieces. Guglielmo Vicario made a good early save from Igor Thiago. The crowd sighed as passes went backwards.
Frank chose a team without Joao Palhinha to try and be more attacking.
It worked, and the score could have been higher. Randal Kolo Muani should have scored at 1-0 from a corner. Cristian Romero headed a corner back across the goal, but Kelleher saved Muani's header.
Spurs coach Thomas Frank talks with Igor Thiago, whom he signed for Brentford in 2024.
The Brentford goalkeeper made good saves in the second half to stop Djed Spence and Mohamed Kudus.
Simons almost got a hat trick when Kelleher was out of his goal, similar to Harry Wilson's goal for Fulham against Spurs.
But Wilson didn't get a good shot, and the ball went to Simons, by which time Kelleher was back in his goal.
Kudus thought he had scored the third goal and started celebrating, but it was ruled offside against Wilson Odobert. Then Kelleher saved a shot from Pape Matar Sarr, who should have scored.
HOW JAMES MADDISON’S INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SIGNALS A SHOCK SEASON RETURN
James Maddison returns to individual training as Igor Tudor prepares Tottenham for a vital relegation battle with Forest.
Ahead of Tottenham’s match against Nottingham Forest, manager Igor Tudor gave an update on when James Maddison might return from injury. It’s a crucial moment for Spurs as they prepare to host Forest in what could be the defining 90 minutes of Tudor’s time at the club and quite possibly a key fixture that will shape the season for both teams.
Currently separated by just one point, Tottenham and Forest are locked in a battle against relegation. A win would push Spurs four points clear of the drop zone, while a loss might drag them into the bottom three. The stakes couldn’t be clearer.
Tudor’s side heads into this game with renewed energy, surprisingly positive given the mood just two weeks ago. The draw at Anfield broke a six-game losing streak, and their recent 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid, though not enough to overturn the aggregate score, brought back a sense of belief. Young players like Xavi Simons and Archie Gray impressed, while Mathys Tel kept the opposition on their toes. The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was electric in a way fans haven’t felt for months. While the Champions League hopes are dashed, that performance has injected valuable momentum into Spurs’ survival fight.
There’s also some hopeful news on the injury front. Dominic Solanke, who missed the Atlético leg with a hip issue, might be available. His physical presence adds a different dimension to Tottenham’s attack, which Tudor will surely be glad to have.
But the most promising update came from Tudor’s comments about Maddison. The creative midfielder, sidelined since August after rupturing his ACL in a preseason friendly, has begun some individual training, spotted alongside Palhinha. Recoveries from ACL injuries are never straightforward, and the team won’t rush him back. With only seven league games left after Sunday, there’s a narrow window for his return. Still, even the possibility of Maddison getting back on the pitch—someone who can change a game with a moment of skill or a precise pass—offers a much-needed morale boost.
For now, though, the focus remains firmly on Forest.
WHY BORUSSIA DORTMUND EXPECT JADON SANCHO TO SIGN FOR FREE
Unai Emery praises Jadon Sancho despite poor stats, while Dortmund free up £21m in wages to lure him back to Germany.
Borussia Dortmund really want Jadon Sancho back, and they’re hoping to get him for free from Manchester United. Sancho’s contract runs out this summer, and honestly, no one expects United to offer him a new one.
Right now, Sancho’s on loan at Aston Villa. It’s his third spell away from Old Trafford since United signed him for £73 million in 2021. His move to Villa was just a loan with no option to buy.
Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has hinted he might keep Sancho, but Dortmund aren’t sitting around. The Times says Dortmund didn’t chase wingers last summer because Nico Kovac liked the 3-4-2-1 formation, but now the boss has changed his mind and wants Sancho back.
If Sancho comes back, he'll need to take a hefty pay cut from his £300,000-a-week salary. Still, Dortmund’s where he made his name after moving from Manchester City in 2017.
Dortmund have room in the budget this summer; they let the contracts of Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, and Salih Özcan run out. That saves them about £21 million a year, and they’re optimistic they can lure Sancho, who’s allowed to strike pre-contract deals with foreign clubs.
Sancho actually spent half of the 2024 season back at Dortmund after Erik ten Hag froze him out at United. He helped them reach the Champions League final, but nothing permanent came of it.
Something similar happened during his loan to Chelsea last season. The club even paid a £5 million penalty just to avoid having to sign him outright. Villa picked him up right at the transfer deadline in September, but, once again, he’s struggled.
So far, Sancho’s got one goal and one assist in 29 games across all competitions. Still, Emery thinks there’s more to come.
When asked in February about signing Sancho for good, Emery said, “Not yet, but he’s a fantastic player. Hopefully, he can help us by improving within our system, like he is doing.
“He’ll need a new contract; maybe it’s here. If he plays his best football, we’ll want him. But other teams will be interested, too.”
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