Troy Deeney slams Xavi Simons celebrations amid Tottenham relegation call

Troy Deeney says he didn’t like Xavi Simons’ over-the-top celebration against Brighton, while admitting he is really worried for Tottenham Hotspur.

Simons arguably had his best game in a Tottenham shirt but couldn’t stop Brighton twice coming from behind to secure a 2-2 draw on Saturday.

Roberto De Zerbi‘s side showed signs of promise at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but their recent fragilities were plain to see.

Simons bagged a goal and an assist in the draw, with the Netherlands international sparking wild celebrations after scoring what he thought was a 77th-minute winner.

The former RB Leipzig man was on the verge of tears when the final whistle blew as Tottenham still search for a first Premier League win since 28 December.

Xavi Simons named in team of the week

Tottenham forked out £51.8million to sign Simons from RB Leipzig last summer, but so far, he has not lived up to that hefty fee.

A return of two goals and five assists in the Premier League is nothing to write home about, although Simons was a cut above the rest against Brighton.

After scoring a brilliant goal, Simons celebrated wildly, before raising his arms aloft to salute the Tottenham fans – something Deeney didn’t like.

The former Watford striker praised the 23-year-old’s “X-Factor” and picked him in his Premier League Team of the Week, but does not think Tottenham will stave off relegation to the Championship.

He wrote in his BBC Sport column: “I didn’t like the celebration when he scored against Brighton – I thought it was a bit too much, a bit Instagrammy. But Spurs have been poor of late, and his quality and the X-Factor he showed with the assist and goal could be how they stay up.

“I don’t think they will stay up – I’m really worried for them, but they need him to have five more games like that, and that will give them the best chance. Maybe if the defenders started to defend, they would have won the game instead of drawing it.”

Deeney also picked Fulham duo Bernd Leno and Joachim Andersen and Manchester City quartet Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki, Bernardo Silva, and Nico O’Reilly in his best XI from the latest round of results.

Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, Bournemouth’s Adrien Truffert, Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins were also selected.

Xavi Simons needs to show Tottenham X-Factor again

Simons is one of Tottenham’s most expensive signings ever, but five goals and six assists in 40 matches in all competitions put him closer to the miss than hit category.

Simons’ highs and lows might just sum up Tottenham’s sorry state of affairs; ergo, they are too emotional during this relegation fight.

The ex-Paris Saint-Germain ace has undoubted quality, but he has struggled to adapt to the league’s physicality.

Via Sofascore, he has scored two goals from an xG tally of 2.96; he has missed three big chances, created seven big ones, and compiled a passing accuracy of 82 per cent in the Premier League.

Simons averages 3.2 ball recoveries per game and 1.2 tackles; his dribble success is at 44 per cent, while his ground duels won are up at 52 per cent.

He impressed against Brighton. Now, Simons needs to do it against Wolves and in Tottenham’s other remaining games.

Otherwise, they won’t be able to close that two-point gap to West Ham in 17th.

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