Ange Postecoglou once famously said that every time he saw a light at Tottenham Hotspur, it was an oncoming train. And that train has now turned into a journey to the Championship, featuring fixtures against Aston Villa, Leeds United, Chelsea and Everton.
Even in their first game of 2026, a win against Wolverhampton Wanderers, the Lilywhites were exposed to shocking news that Xavi Simmons had suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
It is not the first time a Spurs star has suffered a long-term injury in the past 12 months, and serious questions are being asked as to why the club’s medical team failed to diagnose Simmons’ fate quickly enough.
Meanwhile, some questions remain on the pitch now that Roberto De Zerbi has been tasked with replacing the big-money attacker.
Why Simmons is such a big miss for the Spurs
On paper, Simmons is a big-money failure who has scored just seven goals all season in the Premier League. But you can’t tell the whole story on paper.
In fact, De Zerbi and Simmons are the perfect combination, and the arrival of the Italian is the attacker’s best chance to find his best form since arriving in north London.
His true qualities showed in De Zerbi’s first match. The Dutchman took control of the game by assisting Pedro Polo’s opening goal, before firing in a stunning strike that looked to be the winner before Brighton spoiled the party in classic Spurs fashion.
He also told reporters: “New coach, new rules, different mentality.” If anyone was ready to aim high under De Zerbi, it was Simmons.
Spurs currently have a big problem without him. Another of their scoring sources has fallen. Dominic Solanke will also play on the sidelines, but it’s anyone’s guess at this stage where the goals will come from.
In fact, without the pair against Wolves, Spurs’ entire starting XI would have contributed just seven goals for both teams in the Premier League this season. Someone has to step up.
How can the Spurs replace Simmons?
Without Simmons on that side, Spurs are missing a vital connector between their midfield and frontline.
There is a lack of personnel who can demonstrate excellent maneuverability in half turns and wide areas. What they have instead is a midfield full of solid key players, and that will only get them so far, especially if Solanke doesn’t lead up front.
Releasing Bergvall in a more advanced role would immediately solve De Zerbi’s problems with Simmons. The Swede is too often forced to be pragmatic, but if a new manager gives him creative freedom, he could become Spurs’ new Luka Modric.
PL statistics P90 | Simmons 25/26 | Bergvall 24/25 |
|---|---|---|
minutes | 1,757 | 1,206 |
An opportunity has arisen | 1.74 | 0.82 |
dribbling success | 42.4% | 51.2% |
the goal | 0.1 | 0 |
assist | 0.26 | 0.07 |
The last time Bergvall played in a system without the constraints of pragmatism was under Postecoglou last season. At that time, he had great take-on success and created almost one chance per match.
Although not good enough to match Simmons’ chance creation numbers, the 20-year-old remains the player Tottenham are most hopeful of replicating the Dutchman’s quality, with the athletic JJ Bull in particular said to have a “Modrić-like first touch”.
Its versatility is also outstanding. Bergvall can play across midfield, much like Modric did many months ago. He should be one of the first names on De Zerbi’s team sheet if Spurs are to be successful in and out of possession.
Bergvall will be the first to admit this hasn’t been the easiest season. However, he simply did not suit Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor, and neither did most of his teammates. Things could change under De Zerbi.
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