Tottenham fans will love what Archie Gray said after winning Young Player of the Year
After winning the Young Player of the Year award at the London Football Awards, Tottenham’s Archie Gray has made an admission about playing at centre-back for much of this season. He also opened up on the things he has learned over the course of what has been a tough campaign for Spurs.
Being judged as the best young player across London is no mean feat, given the kind of talent across the various clubs in the capital.
However, it is undoubtedly richly deserved for Archie Gray, who has exceeded all expectations during his first season at Spurs following his switch from Leeds United last summer.
The 18-year-old looks destined to have a fantastic career at the top level for both club and country, and he has now reflected on what has been a whirlwind start to his Tottenham career.
Tottenham’s Archie Gray is mature beyond his 18 years
Gray confessed that the step up from Elland Road to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has come with a lot of challenges, but he is delighted to have got as much game time as he has in his first season at N17.
After winning the award, the Tottenham man told BBC Sport London: “Definitely, it’s been different. It’s a big jump from Leeds in the Championship to the Premier League. The amount of games we’ve had this year, it’s definitely been a challenge but I’m grateful for the manager’s trust in me and putting me in these different positions.”
What is remarkable about Gray’s performances this season is the fact that most of them have come at centre-back, which is not a position that the youngster has played prior to this campaign.
Many Spurs fans want to see what the teenager can do in midfield, which is considered by many to be his best position, but the Leeds academy graduate insists that he does not care about where he plays.
When asked about his favourite position, Gray said: “I’ve said it in loads of interviews, I don’t really care where I play or what position it is on the pitch. I’ll always work my hardest so it’s always the same.
“Wherever the manager puts me on, he knows best and I believe in him 100 per cent. Wherever he puts me, I’ll give 100 per cent and work my hardest on the pitch. I’ve got a lot to learn.”
Gray wants to continue learning and improving
The England Under-21 international credited his coaches at Spurs and his senior teammates for guiding him on and off the pitch, admitting that he has learned a lot from the people around him since his move to London last summer.
Gray continued: “Every game, I can learn something different,” he said when asked about playing across the defence. “I always watch the game back and analyse, I always have people telling me what I can do better.
“It’s a credit to the coaches who have been helping me out, especially the people on the pitch. The centre-backs when I was playing there, Ben [Davies], Cuti, Micky, they’ve spoken to me through every game. It would have been difficult if I didn’t have those people who are such leaders and have great experience in the game.”
However, the Tottenham man is not one to get carried away by the start he has made to his Spurs career and is determined to continue looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead.
He added: “Something that’s always stuck with me, my dad told me not to get too high when we’re winning games and stuff like that, not to get too low when we’re losing. I think that’s helped me the most.
“Just staying in that middle ground and not getting too carried away with anything, not getting too sad. That’s helped me stay mentally strong. There’s so many games this season, you can’t dwell on being too happy or too sad about the results, you’ve always got to look to the next one.”
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