Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has had a mixed season so far I think it’s fair to say. He’s pulled off some tremendous saves to win manager Mauricio Pochettino some valuable points as we battle away at the top of the table and continue in this season’s Champions League competition, but equally, he’s been the topic of criticism for some high profile clangers.
Such is the life of a high profile goalkeeper in modern day football but as night follows day, the cock-ups are always better remembered by most.
Lloris had reason to smile on Tuesday evening as he faced his first penalty at our new White Hart Lane Stadium and first penalty save in the history books will forever display his name in the entry. It was actually his third of the 2018/19 campaign and when questioned about the criticism received of late, I think his answer to L’Equipe was spot on.
“I answer on the pitch. I am not perfect, I can make mistakes but what I know what I give for the club. I am paid to play, they are paid to talk. I have no revenge to take, it is part of football. This is not a source of motivation for me. I play for my club, my coach, my team-mates, my family but not for those people. They have the right to analyse.”
It won’t stop the debate surrounding the Frenchman amongst fans, and nor should it as football revolves around opinions and perceptions and fans aren’t the people he’s talking about. Those paid ‘to talk’ live in a saturated media bubble where the more extreme and polarising opinions make the most noise and most of it is usually worth muting.