Les Ferdinand criticises Xavi Simons for exuberant celebration
Les Ferdinand has criticised Tottenham star Xavi Simons for his enthusiastic goal celebration after the club drew 2-2 with Brighton on Saturday night, reports BritPanorama.
Simons scored with a stunning strike just 13 minutes from the end, following earlier goals from Pedro Porro and Kaoru Mitoma. His celebration, which included throwing himself into the Spurs crowd and removing his shirt, suggested he believed he had scored the winning goal.
However, Brighton’s Georginio Rutter equalised in the dying moments, leaving Tottenham to reflect on what could have been. This late equaliser significantly impacts Tottenham’s struggle to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
Ferdinand expressed his dismay at Simons’ celebration, noting there was still ample time for Brighton to respond. He told Sky Sports: “It was a great second goal by Xavi Simons, but the celebrations… I looked at Daws [Michael Dawson] and I said ’78 minutes, there’s still a long way to go’. You need concentration.”
This incident is not an isolated one for Tottenham. It harkens back to November, when Richarlison celebrated prematurely after scoring against Manchester United, only to see Manchester equalise shortly after. Following the match, Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi expressed his disappointment at the result yet praised his players’ efforts, stating they deserved to win against a formidable Brighton team.
De Zerbi reaffirmed his belief in the team’s potential to avoid relegation amidst the pressure they are currently under. He commented on the need for a positive mentality moving forward, indicating that consistent performance levels would be crucial in their upcoming fixtures against Wolverhampton.
The draw highlights the precarious position Tottenham finds itself in, particularly as they remain close to the relegation zone, with fierce rivals West Ham just a point above. A reminder that in football, victory is often fleeting, and celebrations can quickly turn sour.
