Wayne Rooney has shared his honest thoughts on Xavi Simons after the young midfielder finally scored his first goal for Tottenham, and his reaction reflects what many Spurs fans felt at the weekend. Tottenham’s 2-0 victory over Brentford was more than just three points it was a necessary breath of fresh air at the end of a frustrating run of poor home results.
The pressure had been growing around Thomas Frank after five games without a win in all competitions, and the atmosphere inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium had become increasingly tense. But against Brentford, things finally shifted, and at the heart of that change was Xavi Simons.
Tottenham started the match with urgency, and their reward came through a first-half strike from Richarlison, created beautifully by Simons. The young Dutch midfielder had been under heavy scrutiny since arriving in the summer for a big fee from RB Leipzig.
The expectations were sky-high, and the absence of a goal in his early months at the club only added fuel to criticism from media and fans. For a player who arrived to inject creativity and energy into the attack, going so long without contributing in the final third was always going to spark frustration.
His performances dipped, and eventually, Frank made the tough decision to drop him to the bench for four straight games. It was a move that surprised some but also forced Simons to reset mentally.
And judging by the way he performed against Brentford, the spell out of the starting lineup may have been exactly what he needed.
Simons returned to the starting XI with purpose. From the opening minutes, every touch, every pass, every run showed confidence. He looked like a player eager to remind everyone why Tottenham brought him in.
His assist for Richarlison was a moment of class, but the highlight of the afternoon was his long-awaited first goal for the club. When the ball hit the back of the net, you could almost feel the relief inside the stadium.
It was a moment that lifted the pressure off his shoulders and gave Spurs fans their first real glimpse of the exciting talent they had been waiting to see.
Wayne Rooney was one of the first pundits to highlight Simons’ transformation. Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the former Manchester United star praised the midfielder not just for his technical display, but for the attitude and maturity he showed.
Rooney said he was impressed with Simons’ body language, the way he carried himself, and how he handled the challenges he has faced since arriving in England.
He mentioned that their recent conversation gave him a deeper understanding of Simons’ determination and personality, and he believes the young player is now ready to push on.
Rooney expressed genuine happiness for Simons finally getting his goal, saying he hopes this is the moment that unlocks the next stage of his development at Tottenham. In Rooney’s words, Simons is a “top player,” and scoring his first goal may be exactly what he needed to start showing his full quality.
Simons was expected to step into James Maddison’s creative role after Maddison’s long-term injury left a huge gap in Tottenham’s midfield. Like many players adapting from other leagues, he needed time to adjust to the Premier League’s speed and physicality.
It took patience, a temporary demotion to the bench, and a bit of self-reflection, but his latest performance showed exactly why Spurs invested in him.
Against Brentford, he was unquestionably the best player on the pitch. His movement, creativity, and quick decision-making gave Tottenham a spark they had been missing.
Fans finally witnessed the version of Simons they were promised a player capable of lifting the team in the final third and influencing matches constantly.
Now that he has found his confidence, the expectation is that he will build on this performance and establish himself as a key figure at N17.
The Dutch midfielder has all the tools to become a major part of Tottenham’s plans this season, and if he continues on this path, he could help the team reach the goals Thomas Frank has set in his debut campaign. For Spurs, this could be the moment Xavi Simons truly announces himself.
