Archie Gray has admitted that the presence of Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur was a major factor in his move to north London for both him and his family.
The 18-year-old has penned a six-year contract with Spurs after the club agreed a deal with Leeds United that cost the Premier League side just over £25million plus Joe Rodon heading in the opposite direction in a package worth around £40million, which then met the threshold for a clause within Gray’s contract after Leeds failed to get promotion last season.
Gray said that the Postecoglou factor was a big one in joining Tottenham as he admitted that he and his family are big Celtic fans so the Australian had made a major impact on them all.
“I’m really excited. It’s obviously a massive club and an opportunity that I couldn’t really turn down. I’m just really excited to play and get started with the team. It hasn’t really sunk in to be honest and I don’t think it will for the next few days. Until we’ve played a few games and I’ve got to meet everyone, it won’t have sunk in. I’m just really excited and looking forward to it. It’s a massive opportunity for me so I’m really excited,” he said in his club interview.
“When Spurs came and I had the opportunity to play in the Champions League eventually and Europa League this year I couldn’t really say no. I know so many players that are here, not so much the first team but the young lads and another thing is that it’s a massive project under Ange and it’s something that I want to be a part of.
“I’m not going to lie to you, I’m a massive Celtic fan so I love him and my whole family loves him. I haven’t really said this to be fair. He’s also a massive factor because playing under a really good manager is really important for me as well. I’ve still got loads to learn because I’m only 18 so it’s really important.”
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Gray has grown up as a central midfielder and dazzled in the role against Chelsea as a 17-year-old last season in the FA Cup fifth round clash at Stamford Bridge, but played much of the campaign for Leeds as a right-back and he believes that versatility will be a major benefit to Spurs for the coming years.
“Obviously I see myself as a midfielder as my ideal position but I don’t put myself down to one position. I think I’m a versatile player and I can play in a lot of positions on the pitch which is really effective when you’ve got so many competitions and so many games this year,” said the teenager.
“You don’t want to have too big a squad and it can be really helpful for the team to be really versatile and I’m not bothered where I’m going to play, I’m just going to give 100% and that’s all that matters really and to try to perform my best here.”
On that squad he will be joining, led by captain Son Heung-min, he added: “There are so many huge names and to be honest I’m just really grateful that I’ll be able to train with them every day and I just want to show them why they’ve signed me and show them my worth. Hopefully I’ll be able to get playing with them on the pitch and I just can’t wait to get training with them and get to know them, but honestly I’m just really grateful for the opportunity and they’re all massive players and I just can’t wait to meet them.”
Gray is confident that he can step up to the demands of the Premier League and believes that certain aspects of the English top flight will suit his game down to the ground.
“I think there’s loads of things I’ve got learn and I think some parts of the Premier League will suit me more than some parts of the Championship would. I think I’m ready for it and the fitness side of it, it suits my game so much and the technical aspect really suits me as well,” he explained.
“Quite a lot of it suits me but there’s obviously loads of things I need to start learning and I need to do it in pre-season and get ready. Obviously it’s a different league and I need to get ready for that, but I’m hoping that I’ll be able to learn really quickly and perform to my best in every game.
“I’m just hoping to play as many games as I can and help push the team on even more. If it’s being as competitive as I can in training every day and pushing the players, trying to get into the team ultimately at the start, then trying to stay in the team. We’ve got a really strong connection with the fans which I think is really important as well.
“Obviously that was massive at Leeds. This club’s got the same thing going on with the fans and that’s really important for me. I want to create a strong bond with the fans and with the club, so I’m just really looking forward to that.”
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