Tottenham youngster who just turned 20 receives classy gesture from Marcos Llorente after bossing Atletico Madrid midfield

That Archie Gray performance earned respect from Marcos Llorente

Gray was absolutely outstanding on Wednesday night. The former Leeds United youngster dominated experienced internationals, showing composure and technical quality that had the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on its feet. His tireless running, smart positioning and ability to break up play made him Spurs’ standout performer. Llorente’s gesture spoke volumes of how good Gray was.

Gray was instrumental throughout, creating Xavi Simons’ second goal with excellent work. His energy levels never dropped despite playing the full 90 minutes in the first leg at the Wanda Metropolitano just seven days earlier. The 20-year-old covered every blade of grass and driving Tottenham forward.

This was the performance that justified Tottenham’s £30m investment last summer. Gray also made his seventh Champions League start before turning 21, breaking Dele Alli’s club record in the process.

While Tottenham crashed out 7-5 on aggregate, Gray enhanced his growing reputation. The 20-year-old will need to carry this form into the Premier League, where Tottenham sit 16th and fighting for survival with just 8 games remaining. If Gray can reproduce these Champions League performances domestically, he might just help Spurs avoid relegation.