Tottenham Hotspur continued their strong momentum with a convincing 3-0 victory over Slavia Praha, a result that pushed them up to ninth place in the Champions League standings and gave supporters another reason to believe the team is finally finding rhythm under Thomas Frank.
Spurs stepped onto the pitch looking confident and purposeful, carrying the energy and sharpness they showed in their weekend win over Brentford. From the first whistle, they looked faster, more organised and far more dangerous in possession.
The breakthrough came early through an unfortunate own goal, but Tottenham never eased up. They kept pushing, kept moving the ball with intent and kept Slavia under consistent pressure.
Mohammed Kudus calmly dispatched a penalty to double the lead, and Xavi Simons followed with one of his own to seal a win that always felt fully under control.
For the second match in a row, Simons produced the sort of performance Tottenham fans have been waiting to see from him, one filled with confidence, creativity and a growing sense of authority.
His energy was clear from the opening stages. He wanted the ball, demanded it, and always looked to turn and drive at the opposition. His touches were clean, his runs were smooth and his movement between the lines constantly forced Slavia’s defence backward.
Beyond the goal he scored, it was the intelligence of his link-up play that stood out. Simons has a natural ability to connect midfield and attack, and when he is playing with this kind of freedom, Tottenham look completely transformed.
Thomas Frank certainly noticed. Speaking after the match, he was full of praise for the 22-year-old, highlighting both his technical quality and his work rate.
He acknowledged the improvement Simons had shown from his performance against Brentford and pointed out how well he linked play, how quickly he could turn in tight spaces and how effortlessly he accelerated past defenders to create gaps.
Frank also emphasised the importance of his defensive contribution, pointing to a late recovery run deep into stoppage time that summed up the player’s growing commitment and maturity. For Frank, those moments matter just as much as the goals.
Football London agreed with the assessment, awarding Simons an impressive 8/10 rating and describing how his presence made Tottenham look more progressive, more dangerous and far more fluid in attack.
That kind of praise reflects how much his influence is beginning to spread throughout the team. Earlier in the season, Simons struggled to settle and had a difficult run of games, but now he looks like a completely different player calmer, more confident and far more assured in everything he does.
At just 22, he still has so much room to grow, but right now he is building a rhythm that Tottenham have been desperate to see. His ability to pick up pockets of space, to twist out of pressure, to glide past a man and to play that quick pass between defenders gives Spurs a dimension they have often lacked.
When he is on form, the whole team moves differently. The passing becomes sharper, the transitions faster, and the final third becomes a far more threatening place for Tottenham.
As Spurs prepare for their next challenge with a trip to Nottingham Forest, Simons will once again be at the centre of their game plan. Forest under Sean Dyche will not make life easy.
Dyche’s teams are disciplined, physical and organised, and breaking them down always requires creativity and patience. Tottenham will need Simons to bring that same level of sharpness and imagination he showed against Slavia.
His movement, his ability to shift tempo and his quick exchanges in tight areas could be crucial in finding the breakthrough.
Simons knows the responsibility on his shoulders now. He came to North London with big expectations, and after a difficult spell, he is finally showing the qualities that made Spurs invest in him.
These last two games have been a reminder of his potential and a hint of how influential he can become for Tottenham as they continue their fight for stronger league form and Champions League progression.
If he keeps performing with this level of confidence, intelligence and work ethic, Tottenham’s season could change dramatically. And for the fans, seeing Simons grow into the player they hoped for is becoming one of the most encouraging stories of the campaign.
