Speaking to Football.London, Tottenham skipper Hugo Lloris has stated his side have lacked “aggressiveness and intensity” in recent games. This comes as Spurs fell 1-0 behind for the 8th game in a row, in there 4-3 comeback victory over Leeds last weekend.
Lloris on Tottenham’s recent sluggish starts:
“It’s been very hard. We put so much energy into the group stage of the Champions League that as you could see in the last few games of the Premier League, we lacked a bit of aggressiveness and intensity. We were a bit passive, always reactive.”
Spurs can’t seem to get out of the bad habit of conceding first having fallen behind in 14 of their 22 games, so far this season. A habit that has cost them dearly in games against the big sides this season.
“For sure there are many, many reasons. We are capable of playing at a better level and playing 90, 95 minutes at the same level. At the moment it’s a lot of up and down. The guys gave their best, that’s the most important thing. We reached the next round of the Champions League, that was the main target, and we are still in a top four place. That’s the positive. The second part of the season will obviously be different and for sure we will have more energy to finish stronger and be more consistent in our performances.”
Spurs of course not only went 1-0 behind last weekend but had to come from behind three times in the game, with Rodrigo Bentancur’s brace meaning they fought back to secure the win and maintain their grip on 4th place. Lloris on the win against Leeds:
“It’s not easy for every team with international players involved in the World Cup, for example when you see Leeds and Tottenham today there was more to lose for some Spurs players than Leeds players, but we found the mentality to come back three times and win with the fourth goal. It was incredible to be honest but shows the character of the team.”
The game against Leeds saw the return of Dejan Kulusevski to the starting line-up who made his first start since September. The Swede was instrumental in the comeback, setting up Bentancur for the winner. Lloris on Kulusevski’s performance:
“Kulu is a very important player, he showed it last season, being decisive on a lot of occasions for the team,” said the Spurs captain. “We missed him for many weeks and the feeling that we have today is a fresh player, fully fit and it was the case against Liverpool and today.
“You can see that in one vs one he is very aggressive in the final third. Today he made many assists for the team and helped the team a lot to come back in the game and win the game. We know how important he is for the team. It will be the case also for the second part of the season.”
The Premier League is now of course set to take a halt with the World Cup starting in less than a week – with 12 Tottenham players on the plane to Qatar, however the impact of the competition is set to be long-lasting. With the timing of the competition likely to plague the rest of the season with injuries and fatigue. Lloris:
“It’s difficult to predict what is going to happen but obviously we are looking on our side for Tottenham and many players are involved for the World Cup,”
“Hopefully they will come back safe without injuries, and we will continue in our way in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.
Ah, M. Lloris. you say that we should all be respectful of the government in Qatar that oppresses others? You brought shame on France and on THFC by saying this. Have some courage, mate, and support those who need support. The government in Qatar should hear from us that we know what and who they are. Leave being polite to those without a conscience, for a conscience cries out to be heard when it sees evil bing done in its name. Your call for silence falls on ears that can hear silence and weep for it.
Did you forget the revolution that was fought in France for human rights? That is was the French who gave name to those rights of man? (and gays and women?)
You have been our captain, M. Lloris, and worn the captain’s band. Now wear the many coloured band that supports human rights,
Gianni Infantino of FIFA has asked us to ignore the human rights abuses and the criminal violence of the Qatari government and not to “all football to be dragged into every ideological or politcal battle that exists.”
BS on that. FIFA has been criminally involved in the corruption leading to awarding these games to Qatar, and Infantino is in no position to demand this. He is colluding in criminal violence and oppression and needs to be called out. At least Denmark plans a small protest. Good on them.
And shame on our Hugo Lloris who has called for silence. The French captain–and ours–brings same on France and on THFC when he speaks in favor of silence.
If my favored team in the WC, Brazil, wins this year and does so in silence, then their victory will be shallow indeed.