LLORIS BACKING TO LIFT SPURS IN
DREAM: Jose triumphs in the Champions League
HUGO LLORIS insists all roads lead to Jose Mourinho when it comes to Tottenham lifting silverware. The Special One has won it all in club football during two decades of elite management.
Which, even for a World Cup winner like Lloris, means Spurs have a better opportunity now than ever before to finally land a first league title in 60 years – and only the second in their history.
In the last two weeks, the North Londoners have shown that this could be their time to rule the domestic game again.
They earned four points against Manchester City and Chelsea, with a 2-0 home win and a goalless away draw respectively.
That kept Mourinho’s side top of the pile coming into this weekend – and today’s visit of bitter local rivals Arsenal.
Asked if they are better equipped than when previously threatening to gatecrash the Premier League summit, the French stopper answered in positive fashion – by claiming Mourinho holds the key.
Lloris, 33, said: “Behind every big team, the main leader is the manager and then the players need to respond to the demands of the manager to deliver on the pitch.
“We cannot forget in football that everything can turn very quickly. And that’s why it’s important to stay focused on every game and every training session.
“This is the style of
Jose Mourinho, no?
“His team are used to playing with a very solid block.
“He always gets the best from his offensive players but at the same time he needs a good organisation, a good team balance.” Lloris is in commanding form on the pitch after clean sheets against both City and Chelsea.
He is equally alert when it comes to dealing with the hype swirling around the club.
After all, Tottenham have been here before, most notably in 2016 when Leicester pipped them to the biggest prize in English football.
And with a current interest in four competitions, there is no time to take a break.
They face Stoke in the League Cup last eight this month and have cruised into the Europa League knockout phase.
And this is where Mourinho’s mindset can play a crucial part, according to Lloris, who is hoping to be fit to play today.
The Spurs boss labelled his side a ‘pony’ last week in reference to them being some way behind title thoroughbreds Liverpool and City.
Lloris said: “I don’t want to comment on the word of my manager, obviously!
“I understand what he means.
It’s true some clubs are bigger challengers than us – the clubs that are used to winning the Premier League in the last few years.
“But it doesn’t mean we don’t have ambition. It doesn’t mean we don’t have the motivation.”
Beating their fierce rivals today would be another step in the right direction, of course, and Lloris knows how important it is to do so.
He added: “You don’t look at the table when you play against Arsenal.
“We know it means a lot for the fans and you just want to win – for pride and for sharing emotion with them.”
PRAISE: Hugo Lloris