Xavi Simons was once touted as the greatest prospect to emerge from Barcelona‘s La Masia academy since Lionel Messi.
The Dutch attacking midfield player moved to PSG, where he made his professional debut in Ligue 1.
With limited game time with the star-studded first team, Simons has been racking up the minutes with the youth team.
Having left in the summer due to a contract disagreement, he has returned to his native Holland, where he has signed for Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven.
Simons is on the hunt for more consistent game time, and so far has found that.
A bright start to the season with 3 goals and 2 assists already.
If the Dutchman maintains this form, the buyback clause that Paris Saint-Germain has installed may be activated.
This scout report will provide a tactical analysis of how Ruud van Nistelrooy deploys Xavi Simons in his PSV team.
It will be an analysis of the 19-year-old and the tactics employed to maximise his potential.
Xavi Simons Player Profile
Throughout his short career, Simons has been utilised as a ’10’.
So far, he has played this position in all of his games for PSV.
Simons is a small, nimble player who loves to get on the ball.
The ’10’ position, if set up right, is perfect for someone of his ability.
In addition, Simons has been deployed as a winger and an ‘8’ on occasion.
His versatility and ball control allow him to be a good asset in all these positions. 
Simons often finds himself drifting into the wider channels to pick up the ball in half spaces.
He is quick enough to act as a winger and also very direct once on the ball.
At 5’6” tall and weighing 58kg, Simons is one of the smallest players in football.
He uses his body well and ensures the ball is secure.
Simons is aggressive and is no pushover despite his stature.
Xavi Simons In possession
To put it simply, Simons is a joy to watch with the ball at his feet.
He is a very naturally gifted football player who travels effortlessly in possession.
He loves to drift through the game and find pockets of space where he can collect the ball.
By developing the ability to find space at the top end of the pitch, Simons is a threat to all teams.
His movement to play high on the defender before dropping deep into the space where he can receive the ball is what sets him apart from other young players.
Not only this, but he is able to position himself well enough to create an obvious passing angle for his teammates.
The lack of defensive responsibility for a ’10’ enables Simons to stay high during the build-up.
Simons positions himself well, making it difficult for him to be marked.
He plays between the lines as a traditional ’10’ should.
Not only this, but the Dutchman also loves to combine with the Striker.
Simons is quick to anticipate when a combination could come off and plays alongside the number 9.
As all good ’10’s do, he has formed a great understanding with PSV front man Luuk de Jong.
Simons and de Jong combine well and understand each other’s movements.
The height of de Jong complements Simons’ play style.
The close gap between striker and ’10’ means that effective combination play can take place.
It gives PSV a good way of progressing forwards as they have good central dominance with two assertive forward players.
Simons’ first goal for PSV came from a wonderfully worked piece of combination play with a teammate around the top of the box.
The fast thinking and movement from Simons is what made the goal, as well as the composure to take it around the goalkeeper.
Below, you can see the move in progress as Simons plays a quick one-two with his teammate.
His quick combination play is something that he excels in, as he never stands still to admire his pass.
Simons quickly looks to make a move and affect the game in another way.
As a ’10’, combination play is one of the most important attributes, and Simons having this at such a young age will only benefit him and his team.
Below is a pass map of Simons’ passes into the penalty area against the Go Ahead Eagles.
As you can see, he completed all five of his passes.
He is great at linking play around the box and slipping in teammates.
His short passing is really penetrative, and he can easily cause opposition issues.
Another important area for any midfield player to excel in is being comfortable receiving the ball on the back foot.
Receiving the ball on the back foot enables the pace of the game to remain high.
With the pressure of opposition midfield players closing down the space, Simons cleverly opens his body up and receives the ball in motion.
This allows him to accelerate away and into the space behind him.
By avoiding pressure, Simons is able to link up play from the defence to the attack while relieving his team of pressure.
When the game is getting away from him, Simons looks to get involved in the game.
To do this, he drops deeper to receive the ball from the defenders.
By doing this, he looks to speed up the ball and progress the ball forwards quicker than it has.
As mentioned, he is very comfortable on the ball, so picking the ball up deeper is of no danger.
He loves to spread the play with cross-field passes when under no pressure.
He wants the game to progress and move forwards.
He knows his role well and when to drop deep to speed play up.
At the business end of the pitch, Simmons is very tidy with his finishing.
He is composed in and around the box, making him a threat to the opposition.
His role is usually to provide assists and create chances, but he has chipped in with some goals.
A good finish following a ping-pong moment in the box shows his positioning and ability to control the ball.
Below is an example of how sharp and clever Simons is.
In this passage of play, he readjusts his run several times to ensure he remains onside while also pulling away into space.
His body shape and positioning ensure he has a perfect view of the defensive line and the man with the ball.
Once the ball is played, he accelerates quickly into space before calmly slotting it past the goalkeeper.
His off-the-ball movement is already of a high standard and will only continue to improve.
Being without the ball whilst in possession is common for someone who plays the ’10’, and Simons is able to understand his role and not get frustrated.
Furthermore, Simons is sometimes a bit too conservative when it comes to playing the ball forwards.
He often plays the ‘safe’ option and keeps possession, which in the long term may be a good thing as his team builds up.
But playing as a ’10’ means that risk-taking is part of the role, and riskier, more difficult passes should be played.
An example of where Simons could’ve opened up the opposition with a forward pass is below.
He chose to play the ball wide to an unmarked layer rather than play the riskier pass.
Although this is a harsh criticism, the best creators play these passes, and it is something he will have to do if he wants to reach the top.
Xavi Simmons Out Of Possession
Off the ball, Simons works hard to give his team the best chance of regaining the ball.
He is a fighter and is strong in the face of a challenge.
Additionally, he is quick to anticipate the flow of play and press.
He is already in a full sprint before the ball is even halfway to the goalkeeper.
His speed enables him to cover a significant amount of ground and press the opposition hard.
Along with this, he has been somewhat defensively disciplined and helps to regain a defensive shape.
He works hard in the midfield and covers any space well.
Here, you can see him winning a header in his own box, demonstrating his willingness to track back and work for the team.
Sometimes, players run past Simons without him being able to track them.
This is something he needs to be wary of, as it could cause trouble for his teammates.
His understanding defensively will come with maturity and match experience.
Conclusion
To conclude this scout report, Simons has made a promising start to life back in the Netherlands and will look to continue this momentum throughout the season.
He made a statement by leaving PSG in the summer, and hopefully, it will bring him opportunity and success.
This young PSV side will compete hard throughout the season for both the league and cup competitions.
Simons will impact every game he plays, and if he remains dedicated, there is no reason why PSG wouldn’t activate their buyback clause for the playmaker.
