Archie Gray makes Tottenham position stance clear as he names the two players helping his game

[mawspurs]

Archie Gray has told football.london that it does not matter where he plays on the pitch for Tottenham right now. Joining the north London club from Championship side Leeds United in July, the 18-year-old has so far played in a variety of different positions throughout his young career.

Source: Football London

 

[mawspurs]

Spoiler: Quotes

"I'm just enjoying it and wherever I get put on the pitch I'll just try to do my best," Gray told football.london in an exclusive interview. "Every day in training wherever I am playing on the pitch I'll just try and learn as much as I can because ultimately I am an 18-year-old and it doesn't matter where I play now. As long as I can learn loads of different roles then hopefully it will help me in the future.

"When you play different positions you understand that position. And especially when you go back into whichever position you prefer or wherever you play in a different game, you understand what you want from that position as well. Say I play central midfield in one game and have played right-back before, you understand what the right-back wants of you and also what the centre-back wants because you've played in those positions.

"It's just really useful to understand what they want and where you need to be in those positions and I think it just helps my overall game and the understanding. Like I said, I'll just keep learning those positions."

The trio may be competing with each another for a start but Bentancur and Bissouma are proving to be pivotal figures in Gray enhancing his game on the training pitch at Hotspur Way.

"They're two brilliant players and they're so important for the team," he explained. "Especially in training every day they both help me so much as I am a young player and they've seen a lot in football and played at the top of football.

"They're helping me when I go in at No.6 in training and I'm in the same position as them. They just teach me little things like where to be on the pitch and things like that. It's really useful and I'm grateful for them."

Postecoglou is also a huge influence on Gray's development right now. Following his big-money transfer to Tottenham at the beginning of July, the versatile player revealed that he is a Celtic fan and that the Australian boss was a "massive factor" in his move to N17. So what exactly has it been like for Gray to get the chance to work under Postecoglou on a daily basis?

"It has been a pleasure just to learn things under him in training and being able to work under him is a pleasure and I'm really grateful for it," he said. "There's so much more that I can learn from him and I'm just taking it day-by-day in training and the games, so I'm just very grateful."

Gray told football.london he has "definitely" improved as a player in his first four months at the club, with Postecoglou's training methods key to that. The player believes one area of his game has certainly developed since his Spurs switch.

"Just understanding the game a bit more and being a bit more adaptable, if you could say that because I played in a lot of positions last year and even this year I've played in a new one at centre-back," said the England Under-21 international. "I'm enjoying it and just working hard every day."

Although Premier League minutes may have been hard to come by for the player since the start of the season, Gray has featured heavily in the Europa League for Tottenham. The Leeds United academy graduate has played the full 90 minutes in all three league phase fixtures so far, notably starting as a centre-back before playing as a left-back in the second half of last month's 2-1 win away at Ferencvaros.

"It's brilliant. I've said it before in an interview that it's different to league football and cup competitions in England because it's under the lights against European teams, different playing styles and you have to approach each game in different ways because of how the teams play," revealed Gray. "It just has a different feeling to it because it's in a European competition but I enjoy it a lot and I can't wait for the games."

There is one Europa League game that Gray will be particularly looking forward to due to his Celtic connections. Tottenham travel to Ibrox to face Rangers at the beginning of December and the starlet will be desperate to get all three points at the home of Celtic's fierce city rivals.

"Definitely [looking forward to it]," he stated with a smile on his face. "Especially watching Celtic and supporting them a little bit you always look for the Rangers game. The chance to play at Ibrox is a special thing and I can't wait for it.

"I have been to one [Old Firm Derby] and it wasn't at Ibrox. They're brilliant games and I love them every single time. Even on TV they're just as good to watch."

Due to supporting Celtic, Gray knows all about Postecoglou's rousing speeches on the pitch prior to the Bhoys' trophy celebrations. The Australian is also well known for his motivational talks inside the dressing room, with a number of players who worked under him previously stating that they were ready to go to battle hours before even taking to the field.

So just how good are they and what is it like for a Celtic supporter to now witness them on a weekly basis?

"They are good," admitted Gray. "They get you fired up for a game and ready for it. Especially with a manager like him you want to put your all in for him and do your best in the game and get the three points. The team talks are pretty special.

"Everything we do we treat each other like family and that's a big topic around here because if you treat your teammates like family then you'll be ready to do everything for them on the pitch."