Archie Gray produced yet another magnificent performance as Tottenham Hotspur bowed out of the UEFA Champions League despite securing a 3-2 win against Atletico Madrid.
Igor Tudor secured his first win in charge of the club, but it was a case of glorious failure for Tottenham as they lost out 7-5 on aggregate.
Despite their European exit, the North London outfit will take great encouragement from their performance as they build on their 1-1 draw against Liverpool with another fantastic display.
And Gray was in the thick of the action as he ran the show from the centre of the park.
Gray shines again for Tottenham
Tudor lined up with a 3-4-3, with Papp Sarr partnering Gray in the centre of the park. And the young Englishman produced a performance that belied his age, proving his worth to the Tottenham faithful once again.
Gray kept things ticking in midfield and drove forward with the ball, capping off an all-action display with an assist for Xavi Simons’ stunner.
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He was withdrawn late in the game after a commanding display after Atletico Madrid put the result beyond reasonable doubt, but the Tottenham fans showed their appreciation for his performance as he received a standing ovation.
Atletico Madrid’s Marcos Llorente was also seen acknowledging the young midfielder’s display as he ran over to him to shake his hand while he was being substituted.
All in all, it was another step in the right direction for Gray, Tottenham and Tudor despite being eliminated from Europe as their performance on the night was exactly what the home fans expected.
Michael Dawson in awe of Gray
Gray beat a Tottenham record held by a certain Dele Alli as he became the first player aged under 21 in the club’s history to start seven UEFA Champions League games.
He made a telling contribution in attack with a fantastic bit of play to tee up Simons, who capped off one of his best performances for the club with two goals on the night.
Former Tottenham captain Michael Dawson was in awe of the young Englishman’s performance as he lavished praise on his qualities on Sky Sports.
He said, “Xavi Simons, what a goal that is. Archie Gray with the assist. This boy is a special young talent.
“Am I believing again? I’m going to try and keep calm.”
Tottenham’s focus will now shift to the relegation six-pointer against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
And if they pick up from where they left off against Atletico Madrid, their relegation fears will continue to ease as they’ve finally begun to show signs of life under Tudor.
