Archie Gray has been impressive operating as a centre-back for Tottenham in recent games
Ange Postecoglou is enduring a tough time at the helm of Tottenham Hotspur right now, having gone five games without a win in all competitions before Sunday’s 5-0 victory over Southampton. A lot of work has to be done to get Spurs’ Premier League campaign on track, with Postecoglou’s side sitting tenth in the table 16 games.
After hammering the Saints at their perch, the North London side switch their focus to cup duties as they take on Manchester United in an exciting Carabao Cup quarter-final clash on Thursday night.
Spurs are looking to book their place in the semi-final of the cup competition when they welcome Ruben Amorim’s men at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and go one step closer to ending their 17-year-long wait for a piece of silverware.
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Ange Postecoglou was back in front of the media at Hotspur Way on Wednesday ahead of the cup fixture. He revealed his first-choice centre-back pairing Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven will not play again in 2024. On a positive injury update, Destiny Udogie is not injured and could be a part of the squad to face Man United.
The Greek-Aussie tactician was also asked about his impressions of Archie Gray operating in central defence in the last few games. He said (h/t Football London):
“He [Gray] hasn’t missed a beat, and it’s brilliant to watch. The rest of the lads have obviously helped him. Radu is the experienced one next to him at 22, and Destiny, 22, either side of him.
“Archie has done really well, his defending has been really solid, obviously he’s got quality on the ball but the way he’s handled what we are asking him to do a really big job not just for a one-off game. He’s handled it brilliantly.”
Archie Gray, who has previously been restricted to regular minutes in the Europa League and the Carabao Cup, made his first Premier League start for Tottenham in the 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth. The teenage prodigy started as a right-back but had to move to an unfamiliar central defensive role for the final 30 minutes of the game owing to Ben Davies being forced off with a hamstring injury.
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Since Romero, Van de Ven and Davies have all been sidelined, Postecoglou has trusted Gray to partner Dragusin in central defence in recent games. And the Durham-born talent has repaid the boss’ trust with solid displays. What has been even more impressive is the fact that he has looked at home playing as a centre-half in games against Rangers and Southampton.
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The England youth international has shown his quality on the ball, maturity and reading of the game, and for an 18-year-old to do that from arguably the most difficult position on the pitch, deserves huge plaudits.
Let’s hope Gray delivers a commanding display against Man United and helps his side advance to the final four of the cup competition.
