The 2025/26 Premier League season has been beyond a disaster for Tottenham Hotspur, and just when they were starting to get some hope back under new manager Roberto De Zerbi, their latest star player went down with a season ending injury.
Xavi Simons became the latest Lilywhite to tear his ACL, going down against Wolves in the 1-0 win to put a blight on Tottenham breaking up 15 Premier League games in a row without a victory. The Dutchman joins Cristian Romero and Mohammed Kudus as stars who are out for the season, meaning Spurs are now without their three very best players.
Simons was dominating in the last two games under De Zerbi, and the injury comes at the worst possible time. With James Maddison set to come back from injury and Simons actually starting on the left wing, Spurs seemed to have their creativity all sorted out.
The Xavi Simons injury turns everything on its head
Now, the injury to Simons throws a wrench in everything. Tottenham Hotspur now have to juggle major changes to both their midfield and attack. Starting with the attack, Spurs can either go to a two striker formation or continue with a 4-3-3, where Mathys Tel back in at left winger would actually be the one big, positive change Spurs could get out of this injury. But three strikers in all front three spots? Roberto De Zerbi tried that in his first game and should never try it again.
If healthy, the best No. 10 is definitely James Maddison. If not, then Spurs will have to continue with Conor Gallagher in the middle of the park, joining him with Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur, though it seems silly to leave both Archie Gray and Tel out of the XI game after game.
In the case of Maddison starting at the 10, the loss of defensive work rate from Gallagher to Maddison would then have to be addressed further behind in the Tottenham midfield. De Zerbi seems to be smitten with Bentancur as his veteran man in the build up, so Joao Palhinha switching in for Bissouma to offer more defensive robustness and cover for Maddison could then be the move.
Tottenham are going to suffer in the athleticism and ball carrying departments without Xavi Simons healthy, and while Lucas Bergvall would be an ideal replacement in those aspects, he is out of form and likely out of contention. Without Simons, Tottenham are going to have to lean more on a stable defnesive base with Maddison as a traditional 10 feeding either two or three mouths, and if it's a two striker formation, then maybe Gray can come in for additional creativity with four midfielders offering more men to be that base.
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