Xavi Simons credits De Zerbi’s faith after Brighton offer

Dutch international Xavi Simons told The Athletic that after a turbulent debut season with Tottenham Hotspur, capped by a serious knee injury, he now praises manager Roberto De Zerbi, who once said he wanted to take him to Brighton and believes the trust will help him reach his best level.

Simons described the season as a steep learning curve, recalling a red card against Liverpool that cost him three consecutive matches after he had previously scored twice against Brentford and Slavia Prague. “This season taught me a lot, especially when things went wrong,” he said to the English medium.

In late April, the Dutchman suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament against Wolverhampton Wanderers while Tottenham were battling relegation; the club ultimately survived. He added, “I have never experienced such a situation before. For everyone it was a wake‑up‑call that things must improve.”

The injury hit hard. Simons recalled calling his mother, saying, “Maybe it’s like what Cristian Romero had, then I’ll be back in four or five weeks.” The next day he could not walk, and when the club called with the diagnosis, he realised the severity. The setback also forced him to miss the World Cup with the Oranje.

Despite the adversity, Simons spoke with full appreciation for the new manager De Zerbi. “He told me he already wanted to bring me to Brighton. The confidence he gave me from day one is exactly what I need to be at my best,” he explained.

Looking ahead, Simons believes more beautiful moments await. He trusts that under De Zerbi’s guidance he can reach the level he aspires to, and that the future holds promising opportunities for both club and country.