Archie Gray credits Marbella camp for Tottenham's winning run ahead of Leeds

Tottenham Hotspur utility player Archie Gray believes head coach Roberto De Zerbi's decision to take the squad to Spain for a warm-weather bonding trip has transformed the club's domestic season. Spurs have won three consecutive league matches since returning from Marbella and sit ninth ahead of a trip to Elland Road to face Leeds United.

A stalled start and a turnaround

The run followed a 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford last month. That result extended Tottenham's winless start to six games and raised fears among supporters of another relegation battle like last season. Since returning from Spain, De Zerbi's side have beaten Coventry City 3-1, then recorded two-goal wins away at Chelsea and at home to Crystal Palace.

Team spirit in the dressing room

Gray spoke to SpursPlay about the change in form and credited the trip with helping the squad get to know one another. "The Marbella trip would have obviously helped and just getting to know each other," he said. "Being like almost brothers on the pitch, that's something the gaffer talks about all the time and that is what we're trying to do."

He also pointed to small moments on the pitch as evidence of the bond. "We all get on really well, and you can see that out there on the pitch. Even with the celebration, all the subs are running to the players, and they are little things that mean so much to us. That's the most important thing and why we've been improving." Gray added: "It's really important to get three wins on the bounce. It hasn't happened for quite a long time and to do that was really important."

Right-back role and early substitution

Gray has operated largely at right-back, starting seven of Tottenham's nine league matches this season since Pedro Porro suffered a hamstring injury in the 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa in September. Against Crystal Palace on Saturday, the 20-year-old headed Spurs in front past Dean Henderson midway through the first half.

His afternoon was cut short. Gray was booked in the 15th minute, shortly after Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was sent off for a high boot on Tottenham captain Micky van de Ven. Gray was replaced at half-time by Porro, who made his second consecutive substitute appearance after returning from injury. Gray said he was disappointed to come off early. "Yeah, I was [gutted] to be fair, but I was on a yellow card, and we didn't want to take any risks," he said. "I think it's a really important time for us. I think we have improved so much over the past couple of weeks."

Leeds next

Gray now faces his former club Leeds on Saturday lunchtime, as Tottenham aim for a fourth straight win before the upcoming international break. With Porro building up his match sharpness from the bench, De Zerbi faces a selection decision at right-back for the trip to West Yorkshire. A fourth consecutive victory would further strengthen Spurs' climb into the top half of the table.