Coming off a dream summer where he lifted the World Cup with France, Hugo Lloris’ return to Tottenham could have gone a lot better, both on and off the field.
While Spurs are still in the title race, just two points off the top, their Champions League campaign hasn’t mirrored their domestic form, currently bottom of their group after losses to Inter and Barcelona.
Injured for around a month or so, the goalkeeper returned against the Catalans, and was immediately at fault for the first goal they conceded, rushing out to intercept a ball and completely misjudging it.
He opened up to Le Journal du Dimanche about it: “It was just the expectation at the highest level for a first game back. In the moment, I feel like I’ve got my bearings all wrong. It happens. The wheels are calmly going back in motion now.”
His injury also allowed Alphonse Aréola to get his first cap for France, and the subsequent critics flooded in, intensified by his recent arrest for drink driving back in August.
Left ‘embarrassed’ by the whole incident, Lloris doesn’t believe his image will be tarnished that much, and he’s willing to accept everything that comes his way because of it.
As for the critics that followed Aréola’s great performance against Germany, he approaches it in the same manner.
He said: “I don’t want to waste any energy on this type of thing. Firstly, I’m very happy for Alphonse because he’s a remarkable guy with great potential, which he’s showing at PSG. Secondly, he allowed us to get a point. As for the rest, I know my job, I know how this works.”
