Tottenham: Roberto De Zerbi explains how 'special connection' will get best out of Xavi Simons | OneFootball

Italian hopes he can help youngster shine after difficult debut campaign

Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi will call on his experience playing as a No10 to help get the best out of Xavi Simons.

The 22-year-old Dutchman arrived in north London to much fanfare last summer and has impressed in flashes across the front four but generally struggled to keep his form up.

He produced one of his best performances of the season on Saturday, though, as Spurs drew 2-2 with Brighton. He assisted Pedro Porro’s opener and his second-half stunner had De Zerbi’s side on track to secure three vital points in the relegation battle before a last-gasp equaliser from Georginio Rutter condemned them to a second week in the relegation zone.

Neither Thomas Frank nor Igor Tudor managed to get the best out of Simons, but De Zerbi suggested he knew better than his predecessors having spent much of his playing career in a similar position.

“He played very well, a great game,” said De Zerbi of Simons’ performance against Brighton. “I think he can play better and better, because a player like this, he needs to feel confidence from the manager.

“And I stay here to transfer all the confidence he needs, because [when] I was a player, I was number 10, and I think I know what he thinks, because I thought the same when I was a player.

Xavi Simons made little attempt to hide his frustration at full-time after Tottenham drew with Brighton

PA

“I think I'm lucky to have this player on my team, but also he's lucky because with number 10, I can understand better than other coaches.”

Frank plied his trade as a midfielder in his playing days, while Tudor built his reputation as a no-nonsense centre-back, winning a brace of Serie A titles with Juventus.

De Zerbi, meanwhile, specialised as an attacking midfielder during his journeyman playing career and has a track record for developing players in similar positions, with the likes of Alexis Mac Allister among his pupils.

He hopes he can repeat the trick to help Simons hone his talent, adding to SpursPlay: “He's lucky to work with me - not because I'm good, because I was number 10.

“What he thinks now, I thought 20 years ago. So, we have a special connection. I have a special connection with all No10s I work with.

“I love a No10. A No10 has to understand that he has to score and he has to make assists, not just play to be nice to the people - goals and assists.”