Spurs have finally found their new Modric

Ange Postecoglou as soon as famously stated that each time he noticed a light-weight at Tottenham Hotspur, it was an oncoming prepare. And that prepare has now become a journey to the Championship, that includes fixtures towards Aston Villa, Leeds United, Chelsea and Everton.

Even of their first recreation of 2026, a win towards Wolverhampton Wanderers, the Lilywhites had been uncovered to stunning information that Xavi Simmons had suffered an anterior cruciate ligament harm.

It’s not the primary time a Spurs star has suffered a long-term harm up to now 12 months, and critical questions are being requested as to why the membership’s medical group didn’t diagnose Simmons’ destiny rapidly sufficient.

In the meantime, some questions stay on the pitch now that Roberto De Zerbi has been tasked with changing the big-money attacker.

Why Simmons is such an enormous miss for the Spurs

On paper, Simmons is a big-money failure who has scored simply seven targets all season within the Premier League. However you’ll be able to’t inform the entire story on paper.

In reality, De Zerbi and Simmons are the right mixture, and the arrival of the Italian is the attacker’s greatest probability to seek out his greatest type since arriving in north London.

His true qualities confirmed in De Zerbi’s first match. The Dutchman took management of the sport by helping Pedro Polo’s opening objective, earlier than firing in a surprising strike that appeared to be the winner earlier than Brighton spoiled the celebration in basic Spurs style.

He additionally instructed reporters: “New coach, new guidelines, totally different mentality.” If anybody was able to intention excessive beneath De Zerbi, it was Simmons.

Spurs at the moment have an enormous downside with out him. One other of their scoring sources has fallen. Dominic Solanke may even play on the sidelines, but it surely’s anybody’s guess at this stage the place the targets will come from.

In reality, with out the pair towards Wolves, Spurs’ whole beginning XI would have contributed simply seven targets for each groups within the Premier League this season. Somebody has to step up.

How can the Spurs substitute Simmons?

With out Simmons on that aspect, Spurs are lacking an important connector between their midfield and frontline.

There’s a lack of personnel who can exhibit glorious maneuverability in half turns and extensive areas. What they’ve as a substitute is a midfield stuffed with stable key gamers, and that can solely get them to this point, particularly if Solanke does not lead up entrance.

Releasing Bergvall in a extra superior position would instantly remedy De Zerbi’s issues with Simmons. The Swede is just too typically compelled to be pragmatic, but when a brand new supervisor provides him inventive freedom, he might turn out to be Spurs’ new Luka Modric.

The final time Bergvall performed in a system with out the constraints of pragmatism was beneath Postecoglou final season. At the moment, he had nice take-on success and created nearly one probability per match.

Though not ok to match Simmons’ probability creation numbers, the 20-year-old stays the participant Tottenham are most hopeful of replicating the Dutchman’s high quality, with the athletic JJ Bull particularly stated to have a “Modrić-like first contact”.

Its versatility can be excellent. Bergvall can play throughout midfield, very like Modric did many months in the past. He needs to be one of many first names on De Zerbi’s group sheet if Spurs are to achieve success out and in of possession.

Bergvall would be the first to confess this hasn’t been the best season. Nevertheless, he merely didn’t swimsuit Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor, and neither did most of his teammates. Issues might change beneath De Zerbi.