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Archie Gray shares how Roberto De Zerbi’s warm-weather trip transformed Tottenham – ‘Almost brothers…’

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Tottenham's trip to Spain with Roberto De Zerbi in October changed the team's dynamics, according to Archie Gray, who said the experience made the players 'almost brothers on the pitch'. The trip helped the players bond away from matchday pressure, with ten summer signings arriving before the deadline and barely knowing each other in September.

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Archie Gray shares how Roberto De Zerbi’s warm-weather trip transformed Tottenham – ‘Almost brothers…’
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Tottenham's trip to Spain with Roberto De Zerbi in October changed the team's dynamics, according to Archie Gray, who said the experience made the players 'almost brothers on the pitch'. The trip helped the players bond away from matchday pressure, with ten summer signings arriving before the deadline and barely knowing each other in September. Gray attributed the newfound closeness to improved understanding on the field. The Italian manager's goal was to build trust among the players.

The bonding experience in Marbella led to sharper understanding in Premier League games, with players knowing where their teammates want the ball without needing to look twice. De Zerbi emphasized that tactical drills are ineffective without trust between players. Gray pointed to his manager's message as a key factor in their recent performance. The team has picked up nine points from nine in the top flight since returning from Spain.

The newfound unity has given Tottenham the backbone they lacked earlier in the autumn. Gray sees the bond in every tackle, echoing comments from Mateus Fernandes after the win at Chelsea. The squad will aim to maintain this family spirit against Ipswich Town. The recent performance has been a significant improvement, with the team now playing with a cohesion that was previously missing.

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When Roberto De Zerbi flew his Tottenham Hotspur squad to Spain in October, some outsiders questioned the timing. Yet that week on the pitches in Marbella has changed the season in north London. Archie Gray believes the trip brought a new look to the group. He said, “The Marbella trip would have obviously helped, just getting to know each other better and being like almost brothers on the pitch.” With ten summer signings arriving at Hotspur Way before the deadline, the players barely knew each other in September. Living and training together in Spain helped them bond away from matchday pressure.

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