Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank may have avoided defeat to Monaco thanks to a masterclass from his goalkeeper, but his midfield choices raised serious questions.
Italy’s Guglielmo Vicario produced a stunning performance, making eight crucial saves and preventing nearly three expected goals, earning a perfect 10 rating on Sofascore.
His best moment came when Folarin Balogun looked certain to score, only for Vicario to dive sharply to his left and push the shot wide with an outstanding save. While that display kept Spurs alive, it also highlighted the imbalance within the team, especially in attack and midfield, where creativity was almost nonexistent.
Spurs created just one ‘big chance’ throughout the entire match, which tells a story of a team struggling to move the ball effectively and threaten their opponents.
The decision to start Lucas Bergvall as the main playmaker behind the forwards turned out to be a costly one. The young Swedish midfielder looked off the pace and never really imposed himself on the game.
Frank’s selection was meant to give Spurs more energy and movement in the final third, but instead, Bergvall’s lack of impact became one of the major talking points after the game.
The 19-year-old had a big opportunity to prove he could handle the number ten role and establish himself as a regular starter, but he failed to take it. Instead of providing creativity or linking play, Bergvall became a liability in possession.
His performance against Monaco was riddled with errors, including two mistakes that directly led to shots for the French side. What makes that worse is that he didn’t create a single key pass or register a shot for Spurs. The stats tell a harsh but honest story.
| Vs Monaco | Lucas Bergvall |
|---|---|
| Minutes Played | 60 |
| Key Passes | 0 |
| Big Chances Created | 0 |
| Crosses Completed | 0/2 |
| Shots | 0 |
| Dribbles Attempted | 0 |
| Duels Won | 1/3 |
| Errors Leading to Shot | 2 |
As seen in the table, Bergvall had one of his quietest games since joining the team. In 60 minutes of football, he contributed nothing in attack no key passes, no successful crosses, and not a single attempt on goal.
Losing two of his three duels and making defensive errors only deepened the sense that he was out of his depth in such a crucial match. Those numbers alone justify why Frank might need to take him out of the starting lineup for their next Premier League fixture against Everton.
That’s not to say Bergvall doesn’t have potential. The youngster showed flashes of ability earlier in the season, scoring once and providing an assist in the Premier League.
He also boasts a 53% success rate in ground duels, showing he can be tenacious when he wants to be. However, the consistency isn’t there yet. At this stage of his development, he might be better used as an impact substitute, coming off the bench when games open up, rather than being burdened with the creative responsibility from the start.
In contrast, summer signing Xavi Simons offers Tottenham something different flair, creativity, and a touch of unpredictability.
The Dutch playmaker was brought in for £52 million from RB Leipzig to fill the creative void left by James Maddison’s long-term ACL injury. While Simons hasn’t exploded statistically in his early games for Spurs, his underlying performances show promise. In just four Premier League starts, he has created six chances, one ‘big chance’, and already picked up an assist.
His record in Germany explains why Tottenham were willing to spend big. Across two seasons with Leipzig, Simons was one of the Bundesliga’s most dynamic attacking midfielders.
| Xavi Simons (Bundesliga) | 23/24 Season | 24/25 Season |
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 32 | 25 |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 8.26 | 5.11 |
| Goals | 8 | 10 |
| Big Chances Created | 14 | 12 |
| Key Passes per Game | 2.5 | 2.0 |
| Assists | 11 | 7 |
These numbers underline just how consistent and effective Simons can be. With 18 goals and 19 assists across two Bundesliga campaigns, he has already proven that he can perform at a high level in one of Europe’s top leagues.
His technical ability, vision, and confidence in possession give Spurs a new creative dimension. As football talent scout Antonio Mango once said, Simons “has the X-Factor” something Tottenham sorely lacked in their draw against Monaco.
Simons may not have found his first goal in a Spurs shirt yet, but his influence on the pitch is clear. He moves the ball quickly, links play effectively, and always looks for progressive passes traits that could help unlock Everton’s rigid defense.
Replacing Bergvall with Simons would inject more pace and invention into Tottenham’s attack, giving players like Richarlison and Son Heung-min better service in dangerous areas.
Frank now faces a crucial decision. He can either persist with Bergvall, hoping the youngster bounces back, or he can turn to Simons, who has already shown he can handle the pressure of top-level football.
The smarter choice seems obvious. Against a physical Everton side, Tottenham will need creativity and courage in possession qualities that Simons brings naturally.
Dropping Bergvall may be a tough call, but for the sake of the team’s rhythm and attacking intent, it’s the right one.
If Spurs want to find their spark again, it starts with putting their most talented players in positions where they can shine. And right now, Xavi Simons is the man with the X-Factor that Tottenham need most.
