Ange Postecoglou heaps praise on Tottenham duo Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall
Ange Postecoglou, the Tottenham manager, has handed out praise to his two 18-year-old signings after their impressive showing against Rangers in the Europa League.
Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall feature for Spurs despite Tottenham’s struggles
Coming into the game against Rangers on Thursday night, Tottenham Hotspur faced a defensive crisis that left Ange Postecoglou with limited options in his backline.
With Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven sidelined due to injuries and Ben Davies also unavailable, the Spurs manager was forced to craft a makeshift defence to cope with the demands of a crucial match.
The result was an unfamiliar back four, including 18-year-old Archie Gray partnering Radu Dragusin at centre-back for the first time this season.
Gray, whose versatility has seen him feature in almost every defensive role except centre-back, was stepping into uncharted territory in what promised to be a significant test of his adaptability and composure under pressure.
To add to the challenge, Lucas Bergvall, another promising 18-year-old, was due to start the game but was relegated to the bench after falling ill earlier in the day. Despite these complications, both youngsters rose to the occasion and put up impressive displays.
Ange Postecoglou praises Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall after impressive showing against Rangers in the Europa League
Following Tottenham’s performance, Ange Postecoglou was effusive in his praise for Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, highlighting the maturity and potential of his young players.
Speaking to football.london, he said: “He’s 18, it’s a big experience for him. I thought he handled himself really well.
“We’re asking himself to do something that as an 18-year-old in his first year at this level, to play in an unfamiliar position in such big games, I thought it’s outstanding what he’s doing.
“I thought Lucas was excellent when he came on as well. He was due to start tonight but wasn’t feeling well today.
“He was a bit under the weather today. We had to keep him on the bench, but that’s a massive positive for us. Those two as 18-year-olds to be already contributing and experiencing these things will be of enormous benefit to us.”
Archie Gray’s numbers back the praise
Ange Postecoglou’s glowing assessment of Archie Gray’s performance against Rangers is well supported by the statistics, which underscore the young defender’s composed display under intense pressure.
According to his stats on fotmob, Gray, showcased remarkable defensive resilience, contributing six defensive actions, including one successful tackle, two blocks, and an interception.
His aerial prowess was also evident, winning two out of four aerial duels while maintaining a perfect record in headed clearances.
Despite the enormity of the occasion, Gray did not allow himself to be dribbled past, and while there were moments of struggle, such as losing four duels, his overall impact was significant and demonstrated a maturity beyond his years.
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