Midfield talk with Winks and Mason - part two

In this second and final part of Harry Winks’ chat with Ryan Mason, the pair – both products of our Academy – speak about the responsibilities of helping the next generation of talent and what it means to play for England.

Coincidentally, as of this weekend, the fan-favourite central midfield duo have both played the exact same number of games for our first team and for England – 70 Club appearances, one senior international cap apiece – although Harry will be looking to add to that on Monday night when the Three Lions take on Spain in the UEFA Nations League.

With 22-year-old ‘Winksy’ continuing to impress at club level and former player Ryan now spending time at the Training Centre as he takes his first steps on the coaching pathway within our Academy set-up, the pair sat down for this in-depth chat.

Part one ran on Saturday.

Here’s part two...

Ryan Mason: “Let’s talk about responsibility. For me, when I was a first team player having come through the system, a few of the younger lads would come up and train with us. Obviously you were in the squad a lot and you were a younger lad trying to learn and break into the team. I look now at Kyle Walker-Peters and players like that. With that number eight on your back, do you feel more of a responsibility to help the lads because you’ve obviously come through the system and been here such a long time?”

Harry Winks: “To an extent, in terms of young players coming through, I feel there is a responsibility there but in terms of the actual players in the team, I’ve got a lot still to prove. I’m still young myself, I’ve got a lot to show and to prove. I would say I’m nowhere near being a senior player yet. I’ve still got a lot to improve in my game, a lot to prove when I start games and get opportunities.”

Ryan: “I completely get that. That will be something that will probably carry on for the next 10, 12, 15 years. Hopefully you stay here for a long time. Obviously with me working around the youth team lads, the central midfielders, you are the kind of guy that they look up to because you’re one of the most recent ones that has made that step. For those boys looking up at you, what sort of advice would give them from someone who’s made that step recently?”

Harry: “I’d probably say similar to that conversation I had with you a few years back. I think I was 17 or 18 when I had a conversation with you in the dining room. Probably that same advice I got from you, I’d give to them – work hard, keep your feet on the ground but always have that sort of something in your game like you have a point to prove. You always feel like if you have a good game you have to prove it again and again. You can never really rest on your laurels. There’s probably no better example than yourself.”

Ryan: “Going on to England as well, we both have one cap. I’ve retired but you’re sitting on one cap at the moment with many more to come, I’m sure. How do you feel about playing for your country?”

Harry: “In terms of my life, playing for England is one of the proudest moments I’ve ever had. I suppose it’s something like that for you as well. When you go out there and represent your country, it’s a feeling that you can never really replicate. All I want now is more of those opportunities but, to play for England, you’ve got to be playing well at club level before you can even be considered for that. That’s my aim and ambition over the next 10 to 15 years of my career. The most important thing is working hard at Tottenham and staying in the team at Spurs, improving as a player, learning how to get better and trying to keep myself in the team for a long time. In terms of your game back at club level, though, you know more than anyone, as a midfielder, you have to have vision and awareness in a Premier League game, especially with the intensity, and you have to deal with the pressure when you are being pressed from all angles. When you were playing, what was your mindset around how to deal with that?”

Ryan: “I think it was just whatever came naturally. You say about people coming from anywhere... for me, central midfield is the most difficult position in a football team. Like you say, you’ve got players coming at you from all over the place. You’ve got broad shoulders and I think spatial awareness is massive because if you can understand space and understand where people are... I think, with me and you, we’re very similar players in terms of our intelligence, we like to move the ball quickly and it’s so important, especially in this team, that you can see a pass. That’s why I like watching you and I’m sure the boys enjoy playing with you because you’re a player that moves the ball quickly, plays one- and two-touch and that’s when you can create openings when teams are sort of sitting in.”

Harry: “Yes. You can never really replicate the intensity and the difficulties of a game at the top level. I feel like I’m at a point where I can go in there and play maybe as many minutes as the gaffer wants me to play because I feel fit in myself now, I feel confident that I can go out there and play, and as soon as I get the opportunity from the manager, I’ll go out there and take it. There’s no point getting an opportunity and not taking it – the most important thing is to walk the walk as opposed to just talking the talk!”

Ryan: “That’s great! It’s a big season for the boys and I’m hoping for another big season for you as well. All the best!”