Roberto De Zerbi offered an early glimpse of how he intends to shape his new Tottenham Hotspur side during his first game in charge, a trip to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland on Sunday.
The system represents a shift for the squad, who have already had to adapt to different approaches under Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor in recent times. With Spurs now locked in a relegation battle, there is little time for adjustment as they fight to avoid dropping out of the top flight for the first time since 1977.
Currently sitting two points from safety, Tottenham slipped into the relegation zone over the weekend. De Zerbi deployed his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, and while the team showed improved control in possession, they lacked attacking sharpness and remained fragile defensively. At times, the shape resembled a 4-1-2-3, with Archie Gray positioned just ahead of the backline, though he was not heavily involved.
One player given little opportunity to make an impression was Xavi Simons, Tottenham’s £51 million summer signing. The Dutchman has taken time to adjust to the Premier League, but recent performances have hinted at growing confidence despite the team’s struggles.
However, De Zerbi introduced him only in the final minutes of the match, offering minimal time to influence proceedings. Speaking before the game, the Italian had described the 22-year-old as a “big talent,” later explaining his limited involvement by pointing to in-game changes and the disruption caused by Cristian Romero’s injury.
Simons’ restricted role has not been limited to De Zerbi’s tenure, having also seen inconsistent usage under previous managers. Across 26 Premier League appearances this season, he has averaged just over an hour per game, starting 17 times.
Since arriving at the club in late August, he has missed only a handful of matches, including a suspension following a red card against Liverpool. Tottenham’s struggles are reflected in their results, with just 12 wins during his time at the club. Notably, Simons started in 11 of those victories, missing only the December win over Crystal Palace due to suspension.
He is not alone in featuring prominently in those wins. First-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and defender Pedro Porro have also been involved in 11 of the 12 victories during the same period.
Despite this, Simons has struggled to secure a consistent place in the starting lineup, having been overlooked by previous managers and again omitted from De Zerbi’s first selection, raising further questions about his role under the new regime.
