Lloris has all my trust and confidence, insists Jose
TOTTENHAM boss Jose Mourinho says Hugo Lloris still has his full backing after a string of recent errors by the World Cup-winning goalkeeper.
The France captain started the season well as Spurs rose to the top of the Premier League but has been at fault for a number of goals in recent weeks, including two in Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.
But Mourinho is backing the 34-yearold to come good and insists he remains one of the best stoppers in the world.
‘When a player is a top player, it’s not because of one mistake or two or three that means he’s not a top player again,’ Mourinho said. ‘That’s the most important thing. If he had responsibility in one or another goal we conceded recently, he’s still the same goalkeeper.
‘He’s my No.1 choice and he has all my trust and my confidence.’ Joe Hart
is likely to come in for Lloris against Wolfsberg in Budapest tonight, with the tie switched from Austria due to coronavirus travel restrictions.
But left-back Sergio Reguilon misses out with injury in a game and tournament which suddenly look crucial to Spurs’ hopes of reaching next season’s Champions League.
With Mourinho’s men ninth in the top flight, their hopes are pinned on winning the trophy but the Portuguese is not feeling the strain despite one win in six in all competitions.
He added: ‘I don’t feel pressure, I feel big responsibility, which is a completely different thing and much better. This is about responsibility, ambition and motivation, not pressure. I spoke to the players today about that and we will speak again tonight.’
BIT-PART BALE ‘NEAR THE END’ OF CAREER
GARETH BALE is not playing at Tottenham because he is coming towards the end of his career, his agent Jonathan Barnett claimed.
Spurs have been involved in 22 Premier League matches following Bale’s return on loan from Real Madrid, but the 31-year-old has started only two of them.
Asked why Bale, 31, was not playing regularly, Barnett said: ‘He’s towards the end of his career. Really, you have to ask ( Jose) Mourinho that.’
Spurs boss Mourinho had questioned Bale’s Instagram post which suggested he was in good health despite being unavailable to feature in the FA Cup defeat at Everton.