Xavi Simons: Tottenham boss Thomas Frank says new signing’s struggles much like Florian Wirtz’s at Liverpool

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank believes Xavi Simons is having the identical struggles as Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz.

Each Simons and Wirtz joined from Bundesliga sides this summer season in big-money strikes, with Spurs signing Simons for £51m from RB Leipzig, whereas Liverpool splashed £116m on Bayer Leverkusen’s Wirtz.

However each gamers are but to attain for his or her new golf equipment as they’ve struggled to adapt to life within the Premier League.

Simons, whose solely help got here on his debut within the win over West Ham, has the prospect to attain his first objective for Spurs on Wednesday as they face Monaco within the Champions League, with Frank believing the Dutchman is trending within the “right direction”.

Requested at his pre-match press convention about Simons’ difficulties utilizing the instance of Wirtz, Frank replied: “I feel that is an excellent query. Additionally, an excellent comparability with Wirtz, who can also be an excellent participant, identical to Xavi.

“An excellent participant coming into a few issues – new nation, new membership, new metropolis. You simply have to settle in, and it’s a part of it.

“We’re all getting judged each recreation. However we additionally have to see the little bit larger perspective and see it over time.

“I always look for glimpses and bits and pieces we are working at. So, for example, Xavi, I think there were
some good bits. I worked with him and asked him to be more arriving in the box, which, when I looked back at the game, he did.

“Was there an enormous eye-catching second? No, however there have been good glimpses. So I feel it is continuously going just a little bit in the best route.”

Frank explains stark distinction in dwelling and away kind

Tottenham face Monaco on the again of Sunday’s dwelling defeat in opposition to Aston Villa, which meant Spurs have now gained simply three of their final 18 Premier League dwelling video games.

However their away kind has been in stark distinction beneath Frank, along with his facet unbeaten on the street in all competitions this season (excluding the UEFA Tremendous Cup defeat to PSG on impartial floor).

Requested by Sky Sports activities to clarify the imbalance between dwelling and away outcomes, Frank replied: “I don’t know exactly. It depends on who you are facing – that can be home and away.

“I do know at dwelling you might play in a selected means and different groups are taking part in in a selected means in opposition to you in comparison with while you go away. After which the workforce opens up just a little bit extra, so you’ll be able to hit them just a little bit extra on the counter, so you do not have to create all the things from scratch and 11 gamers behind the ball.

“But I just think definitely the away form has been very good in terms of what we said before. I think we’ve been extremely good in the foundation in football, in terms of we have a good base in the middle, low block and also very high.

“I feel it is crucial that we most likely have probably the most aggressive groups within the excessive stress. And I feel that is an enormous a part of why we’re additionally fairly good away from dwelling. We have to proceed tomorrow in opposition to an excellent workforce, however we’re up for that.”

Frank confirms Romero and Udogie to miss Monaco game

Tottenham are aiming to stay unbeaten within the Champions League this season on Wednesday, however Frank can be with out defenders Cristian Romero and Future Udogie in Monaco.

Captain Romero missed coaching on Tuesday morning as a result of an “abductor strain” after he pulled out within the warm-up of Sunday’s 2-1 dwelling defeat to Aston Villa.

Frank mentioned of Romero’s damage at his pre-match press convention: “It’s an abductor strain. We will assess it more this week before we come with any timeframe.”

Requested whether or not followers ought to be involved in regards to the damage, Frank replied: “No, I don’t think so.

“For me, it is an abductor pressure. We’ll assess him this week, after which we’ll know extra.”

Spurs will also be without Udogie again after he missed Sunday’s loss to Villa with a knee issue.

Frank said of the left-back: “The most recent is that he obtained that knee irritation after the worldwide responsibility.

“We are assessing and working very hard to get on top of. We will know more probably day by day or in the next week.”

Dier injured for Spurs reunion with Pogba absent for Monaco

There can be no Tottenham reunion for Eric Dier, with the Monaco defender injured for Wednesday’s conflict.

The England worldwide, who made 365 appearances in nine-and-a-half years at Spurs, misses out with a hamstring damage.

Requested by Sky Sports activities whether or not Dier was dissatisfied to overlook out on dealing with his outdated membership, new Monaco boss Sebastien Pocognoli replied: “Actually, it was more general disappointment to be injured because I felt he really wanted to start the journey with me on the weekend. He was really upset with the injury.

“For certain, it’s deeply disappointing for him that he misses the sport in opposition to Tottenham, however we did not talk about this.”

Paul Pogba will not make his long-awaited return to football against Tottenham, either.

The ex-Manchester United midfielder has suffered a setback in his comeback, having yet to feature for Monaco since joining in the summer as a free agent.

The France international is training with the squad, confirmed Pocognoli.

“I feel the method for Paul is a course of to make all the things step-by-step,” the Belgian said. “Yesterday, he skilled with the group for the primary time beneath my teaching.

“He was smiling, enjoying himself and interacting with the players, so for me that’s the first step. This step can take days, two or three weeks, and then we can build on this through performance, the consistency.

“In order that’s step one, and I am more than happy to see him on the pitch.”