Jamie O’Hara didn’t hold back his emotions after Tottenham’s 1-0 loss to Chelsea, calling out Xavi Simons for what he described as a “nightmare” performance.
The former Spurs midfielder went as far as labeling Simons “Tottenham’s Antony,” expressing his frustration at the Dutchman’s costly mistake that handed Chelsea their winning goal.
Simons, who began the match on the bench, was called into action early after Lucas Bergvall was taken off due to concussion protocols.
But instead of making a positive impact, the 22-year-old’s evening quickly turned disastrous. Within half an hour of coming on, a moment of poor decision-making in possession allowed Chelsea to pounce and score the decisive goal.
After Spurs won the ball back through Micky van de Ven, Simons received a pass from his fellow countryman but made a risky decision to play it back.
The pass was too weak, allowing Moises Caicedo to intercept, break forward, and set up Joao Pedro, who coolly placed the ball into the top corner. The mistake proved fatal for Tottenham, who failed to recover from the setback.
O’Hara, commentating live on talkSPORT’s GameDay, erupted in frustration as the goal went in. He slammed his fist on the desk and unleashed a scathing rant on air. “What on earth are Tottenham doing at the back?” he shouted.
“It’s a joke, an absolute shambles! Xavi Simons gives the ball away again soft, short, and careless. I’m sick to death of it. We spent £60 million on him, and he’s been bang average. I’d take him off right now.”
The former Spurs man compared Simons’ struggles to Antony’s failed stint at Manchester United. Antony, who cost United £86 million in 2022, never lived up to expectations and was often criticized for being wasteful and predictable.
O’Hara suggested Simons was heading in the same direction, struggling to adapt to the Premier League’s physical and fast-paced nature.
As the game went on, Simons’ night worsened. He was eventually substituted in the 73rd minute, replaced by Brennan Johnson a move O’Hara described as “the worst thing that can happen to a player.”
Being “subbed as a sub” is often seen as a public statement from the manager, and this time it spoke volumes about Thomas Frank’s frustration.
Even the live reporter at the game, Will Hobbs, admitted that while Simons had shown effort defensively, his creativity was nonexistent. “He’s tracked back and made some decent tackles,” Hobbs said, “but when he’s had the ball, he’s done very little with it.
He’s given it away several times and looks short of confidence. You can’t help but think about Eberechi Eze, who almost joined Spurs he must be watching this thinking he made the right choice.”
O’Hara’s co-host, Rory Jennings, echoed the sentiment, saying, “It’s a mugging off. Bringing on a player and then deciding it was a mistake that’s brutal. It sends a message to the whole team. When you’re the sub who gets subbed, it means the manager’s patience has run out.”
Jennings also noted that Simons appeared out of touch with the rhythm of English football, even appealing for fouls that were never going to be given. “He’s got to get his head down,” he said. “It’s a bad day for him, and now he’s got to win back the trust of the fans and the coach.”
Simons’ misery was compounded by a yellow card late in the game, rounding off what was undoubtedly his worst night in a Tottenham shirt. Even the usually composed Thomas Frank couldn’t hide his anger.
The manager was seen kicking a water bottle in frustration after Chelsea’s goal, sending it flying down the touchline a rare display of emotion from the Dane.
Despite trying to rally after the setback, Tottenham failed to regain control. They managed just one shot on target throughout the entire match their lowest total in a Premier League game against Chelsea since 2020. Frank’s men struggled to create meaningful chances and looked toothless in attack.
Chelsea, on the other hand, took full advantage of Spurs’ poor play and comfortably saw out the game to climb back into the top four.
For Tottenham, the defeat was a major setback in their push for the title. They remain third, but rivals have now caught up with them on points, making the next few fixtures crucial.
As the dust settles, Xavi Simons finds himself at a crossroads. Signed for £52 million in the summer with high expectations, the young Dutchman is now under intense scrutiny.
His costly error, lack of composure, and failure to make an impact have drawn harsh criticism from fans and pundits alike. For Simons, this was a painful lesson about the demands of Premier League football one he must learn from quickly if he hopes to turn things around.
Jamie O’Hara’s frustration may have been raw, but it reflected the mood of many Tottenham supporters who expected more from one of their marquee signings.
Now, all eyes will be on Simons’ response. Will he crumble under pressure or rise to prove his worth? Tottenham’s next few games may provide the answer but one thing is certain: after a night like this, the young midfielder has no room left for mistakes.
