Simons in Netherlands: Facing Football Criticism

• Thierry Boon

  Reporter NOS Sport

“I think I have proven myself a bit, but it could be much better. I have not even shown half of what I can do.” That promises a lot. Supported by a record transfer, Xavi Simons raises the bar for himself.

Simons is only 22 years old, but has a CV that many routiniers can only dream of. FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, PSV, RB Leipzig and now Tottenham Hotspur. The internet sensation of yesteryear with its blonde curls in the famous youth of Barcelona makes more and more expectations.

At PSV and Leipzig he managed to control the team, with his dribbles, assists and goals. Now he wants to show that in the Dutch national team. Yes, there were beautiful moments. Just think of the goal against England in the semi -final of the European Championship. But Simons is not (yet) undisputed.

“I have experienced a lot here so far,” says the 28-time international, who made his debut at the World Championship in Qatar. “I have also seen the other side of football. That made me stronger.”

Simons is referring to the criticism in the past in the Netherlands, but also on his attitude. “I do have a strong opinion about how players are dealt with here,” says Simons, without going into it very much.

“I grew up in another country (in Spain, ed.) And know how things are going somewhere else. This is just the way here in the Netherlands. And that is okay. I don’t like negative things, try to avoid that. Playing football is all I want.”

And that goes well. Simons deliberately follows his career path, supported by his family. “I played in the youth with Barcelona and PSG and then went to the first of PSV with a goal. I went to the table with my family and so far everything has come true.”

His environment is therefore important for the midfielder Annex attacker. That is apparent when he talks about the choice for his new club Tottenham. “Before I signed, my family went to the stadium. The reaction of my eleven sister was great.”

She was impressed by modern accommodation, opened in 2019.

The transfer to Europa League winner Spurs, where he is the most expensive purchase ever with around 65 million euros, means the end of a turbulent period. At his club Leipzig, Simons had already announced at the end of last season that he was ready for a step higher.

The first concrete stories that came out were about Chelsea, the club on the other side of London. So it eventually became Tottenham, but that transfer only became official last Friday. Until then, Simons just played everything at Leipzig.

“I am a professional boy. Even though I wanted to leave, I told the club that if I were still there, I would just do my best and hopefully we would come to a solution. That happened and I hope to develop now in the best competition in the world.”

That it was not Chelsea, but spurs, has to do with feeling, according to Simons. “At PSV, for example, I also knew after a conversation with trainer Ruud van Nistelrooij: this is where I have to be. I also had that at Leipzig and also at Spurs, where I also encountered Micky (van de Ven, ed.).”

With his transfer, Simons is the fourteenth Premier League player of the current Oranjes selection. “I knew: I want to be there too. You have the best players there. I also want to be the best. I know what I want to achieve and I will do that too,” he is bursting with self -confidence.

He has already received his first standing ovation of the Spurs fans. Although in long pants, but still. Last weekend he was presented to the supporters in his own stadium under loud cheers, prior to the game with the Bournemouth of Justin Kluivert.

Along the training field in Zeist, in the run-up to the World Cup qualifying matches with Poles and Lithuania, Simons says several times that it is time for the next step in his development. “I want to leave my mark.” Soon at Tottenham, now with Orange.