Young Tottenham midfielder Archie Gray has delivered a brutally honest assessment of his team's recent performances while finding silver linings in their Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
The 19-year-old acknowledged that back-to-back losses against Arsenal and PSG were "not good enough" for a club of Tottenham's stature, but insisted there were positive takeaways from Wednesday night's 5-3 thriller in Paris.
Mixed Emotions After Paris Thriller
Speaking after the dramatic encounter at Parc des Princes, Gray expressed his disappointment while highlighting the team's improved attacking display compared to their 4-1 derby humiliation at Arsenal just days earlier.
"It's disappointing to lose games of football and we're not happy after that one," Gray stated. "But we've got more positives to take from this game than the last game. We scored three goals so that was obviously pretty positive."
The match represented a strange paradox for Spurs - simultaneously showcasing their defensive vulnerabilities while demonstrating significant offensive improvement. Richarlison netted his sixth goal of the season, while Randal Kolo Muani, on loan from PSG, scored his first two goals in Tottenham colours.
Tactical Adjustments and Defensive Lapses
Manager Thomas Frank employed a 4-4-2 diamond formation with Gray playing a crucial role in central midfield. The teenager pushed high when Spurs had possession and dropped deep alongside Rodrigo Bentancur when out of possession.
Gray explained the tactical approach: "The pressure against PSG was just man-to-man. Find your man and stay with them. It was just trying to find the spaces where the PSG midfielders don't want to track you."
Despite showing fight and aggression, Tottenham's defensive frailties proved costly, particularly during a whirlwind 15-minute period that saw PSG score three quick goals after Kolo Muani had put Spurs 2-1 up in the 50th minute.
The defeat extends Tottenham's worrying run of form, with just three victories in their last 12 matches across all competitions since the end of September.
Praise for Support and Coaching Staff
Gray reserved special praise for the travelling Tottenham supporters, describing them as "unbelievable" throughout the challenging Paris trip.
"The fans were unbelievable," he emphasised. "They have stuck with us through a lot of hard times and we can't thank them enough for the support they give us, especially after a few tough games."
The young midfielder also highlighted the positive impact of the coaching staff, who have provided individual development plans to help players improve. This support has been particularly valuable for Gray, who has been deployed in multiple positions including centre-back and left-back since joining the first team.
"The coaching staff have been absolutely brilliant with everyone, especially improving our individual games," Gray noted. "Last season was a tough season... there were loads of setbacks. It is just things to learn from and the coaching staff this year have been really helpful."
As Tottenham prepare for Saturday's crucial Premier League encounter against Fulham at their stadium, where they've managed just one league victory this season, Gray remains optimistic that the positives from Paris can provide a platform for improvement.
