{"id":43439,"date":"2026-02-18T18:13:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T23:13:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/02\/18\/tottenham-fans-will-love-what-xavi-simmons-has-been-up-to-behind-the-scenes-ahead-of-the-north-london-derby\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T18:13:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T23:13:16","slug":"tottenham-fans-will-love-what-xavi-simmons-has-been-up-to-behind-the-scenes-ahead-of-the-north-london-derby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/02\/18\/tottenham-fans-will-love-what-xavi-simmons-has-been-up-to-behind-the-scenes-ahead-of-the-north-london-derby\/","title":{"rendered":"Tottenham fans will love what Xavi Simmons has been up to behind the scenes ahead of the North London derby"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/02\/18\/tottenham-fans-will-love-what-xavi-simmons-has-been-up-to-behind-the-scenes-ahead-of-the-north-london-derby\/#Xavi_Simmons_skips_holiday_to_prepare_for_North_London_derby\" >Xavi Simmons skips holiday to prepare for North London derby<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/02\/18\/tottenham-fans-will-love-what-xavi-simmons-has-been-up-to-behind-the-scenes-ahead-of-the-north-london-derby\/#Unlocking_Simmons_true_potential_would_be_huge_for_Spurs\" >Unlocking Simmons&#8217; true potential would be huge for Spurs<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p><strong>TalkSPORT reports that Tottenham star Xavi Simmons has quickly endeared himself to supporters with his personal decision to forgo his granted leave and remain at the training ground, demonstrating his dedication.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After a demoralizing 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle last week, the team were surprisingly given five days off, which ultimately cost manager Thomas Frank his job.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Download the official CaughtOffSide app to get all the latest news and updates straight to your phone. above <span role=\"presentation\"><u>apple<\/u><\/span>  &#038; <span role=\"presentation\"><u>Google play<\/u><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>But while some of his team-mates were getting a chance to recharge in the sunshine, Simmons was said to be putting in grueling extra time at Hotspur Way.<\/p>\n<p>What is his focus? He will make sure he is in top physical and tactical form ahead of this Sunday&#8217;s high-stakes North London derby against Premier League leaders Arsenal.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Xavi_Simmons_skips_holiday_to_prepare_for_North_London_derby\"><\/span>Xavi Simmons skips holiday to prepare for North London derby<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 612px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Katherine Ivill Photo \u2013 AMA\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Simmons&#8217; dedication comes at a key moment as interim head coach Igor Tudor takes the reins.<\/p>\n<p>Former Juventus boss Tudor, who was appointed earlier this week, is known for demanding high intensity and tactical discipline, a trait Simons is clearly keen to demonstrate.<\/p>\n<p>The 22-year-old midfielder sacrificed his rest period to send a clear message to his new coaching staff.<\/p>\n<p>Tottenham sit in 16th place, just five points above the relegation zone, but Simmons seems determined to lead by example.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Unlocking_Simmons_true_potential_would_be_huge_for_Spurs\"><\/span>Unlocking Simmons&#8217; true potential would be huge for Spurs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Maximizing the potential of Xavi Simons is one of Igor Tudor&#8217;s most important tasks.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the club&#8217;s struggles, Simmons has been a rare bright spot this season, most recently topping the Premier League&#8217;s passing statistics with a defense-slicing pass in the 2-2 draw with Manchester City.<\/p>\n<p>Although he has yet to reproduce the form he had at RB Leipzig, he remains one of the most highly regarded young players in Europe.<\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s a reason why top clubs like Liverpool were interested in signing him in the summer, with Chelsea also trying to sign him before Spurs ultimately snatched the deal.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>club\/team<\/th>\n<th>Appearance<\/th>\n<th>the goal<\/th>\n<th>assist<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>RB Leipzig<\/td>\n<td>78<\/td>\n<td>twenty two<\/td>\n<td>twenty four<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>PSV Eindhoven<\/td>\n<td>48<\/td>\n<td>twenty two<\/td>\n<td>11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>tottenham hotspur<\/td>\n<td>31<\/td>\n<td>2<\/td>\n<td>5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Paris Saint-Germain U19<\/td>\n<td>29<\/td>\n<td>16<\/td>\n<td>14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Paris Saint-Germain UEFA U19<\/td>\n<td>12<\/td>\n<td>5<\/td>\n<td>6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>paris saint germain<\/td>\n<td>11<\/td>\n<td>0<\/td>\n<td>1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Xavi Simons\u2019 various club stats (via Transfermarkt)<\/p>\n<p>The Dutch playmaker has the vision and creative flair to dismantle any defense, but under Thomas Frank he often looked isolated in a stuttering system.<\/p>\n<p>If Tudor can create a framework for Simmons to thrive as a creative center, Spurs could have what they need to derail Arsenal&#8217;s title bid and climb out of the drop zone.<\/p>\n<p>For fans, seeing their star man running single-mindedly while other players are resting is the perfect energy to get the atmosphere going on derby day.<\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End -->\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TalkSPORT reports that Tottenham star Xavi Simmons has quickly endeared himself to supporters with his personal decision to forgo his granted leave and remain at the training ground, demonstrating his dedication. After a demoralizing 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle last week, the team were surprisingly given five days off, which ultimately cost manager Thomas Frank [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":43440,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[40],"class_list":{"0":"post-43439","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-football"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43439","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43439"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43439\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43440"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43439"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43439"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43439"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}