Goalkeeper Lloris says Tottenham’s risk-taking, attacking style deserves trophy
>> CLAIREFONTAINE: The risk-taking, attacking football pursued by Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino deserves to be rewarded with a trophy, goalkeeper Hugo Lloris told the Associated Press.
And next month’s FA Cup semifinal match against Manchester United is a chance for the London team to show it is ready “to step up a level’’ in its ambition to go toe-to-toe with Europe’s biggest clubs.
Arriving sleepy eyed to an interview after an afternoon nap, Lloris immediately perked up when discussing Tottenham’s season of contrasting fortunes.
The team tumbled out of the Champions League against Juventus, conceding two goals in three minutes at Wembley on March 7.
But a top-four finish in the Premier League, which would secure Champions League football and revenues next season, remains attainable. Fourth-place Tottenham make an important cross-London visit to fifthplace Chelsea on April 1.
With hindsight, the Tottenham captain said Juventus’ superior Champions League experience — they played two finals in the last three seasons — proved a decisive factor in their 2-1 victory at Wembley.
After drawing 2-2 in the first leg in Turin, Tottenham threw away a lead at home and became the first English team eliminated this season.
Lloris said the result was very frustrating for Tottenham because “we played so well.’’
“It’s just about some details,’’ he said in the interview at the France national team’s Clairefontaine camp.
“They don’t really need to play attractive football to get the result that they want, and that’s probably the case with all the Italian teams, they have the culture of the win.’’
He added: “This year was a great experience, and for sure we’ll learn a lot from that.’’
He said silverware is needed to spur their progress.
“We want a trophy because I think we deserve a trophy,’’ Lloris said. “It’s just because we play so attractive football. I think people enjoy the way we play because we are a very positive team with a lot of energy. The way we play football is a bit risky but we create a lot of chances.’’
QUINTERO STUNS FRANCE
Substitute Juan Quintero lashed home a penalty five minutes from time as Colombia came back from 2-0 down to stun France 3-2 on Friday.
Barcelona centre-back Samuel Umtiti was penalised for a rash lunge on Quintero’s fellow substitute Jose Izquierdo as the South Americans received a morale boost ahead of the World Cup in Russia.
“My team showed World Cup character,” beamed Colombia coach Jose Pekerman.
France coach Didier Deschamps admitted the visitors had shown greater desire.
“The Colombians gave us a lesson in aggressiveness, whereas we were too quick to settle for what we had,” he told TMC television.