Poch claims drink-drive stress led to Lloris injury
MAURICIO POCHETTINO admits the injury which still rules out Hugo Lloris could have been linked to the mental strain and humiliation of the Tottenham captain’s drink-drive ban. Lloris damaged a thigh muscle during Spurs’ 3-0 victory at Manchester United less than four days after he was arrested and charged for being drunk at the wheel. He was able to complete the game at Old Trafford but has not appeared since, and is not yet back in training as Pochettino gives him time required to clear his head as well as heal his body. ‘I think he was under stress during the game against Manchester United,’ said Pochettino. ‘The added stress maybe created that injury. The
injury now is helping him to take time and think, and be a little bit more relaxed. To compete after what happened was a massive stress for him.’
Lloris was arrested while crawling at 15 miles per hour through central London in the early hours of Friday, August 24, and started at Old Trafford on the following Monday where Spurs won 3-0.
He was recorded at more than twice the drink- drive limit when stopped by police and there had been vomit inside his Porsche Panamera. Lloris was banned from driving for 20 months and fined £50,000 with his defence lawyer saying the ‘ spectacular fall from grace was not lost’ on a footballer who captains his club and country, the world champions, France.
Pochettino dismissed the notion that Lloris may have an alcohol problem, and insisted that the 31-year-old goalkeeper had been deeply shamed by his mistake.
When his thigh injury was initially reported, the Spurs manager said it was ‘not a big issue’ and that he hoped to have him back for last Saturday’s loss to Liverpool. Lloris, however, is yet to return to training. He will not feature against Brighton in the Premier League tomorrow or in the Carabao Cup against Watford on Wednesday.
‘We still don’t know,’ said Pochettino, when asked when Lloris might be back. ‘We hope as soon as possible but if everything goes to plan he can be back next week.’
Michel Vorm has deputised and Spurs have slumped to three defeats in as many games without Lloris. Dele Alli is back in contention after missing two games with a hamstring injury picked up on England duty.
Pochettino will make more changes at Brighton in an attempt to protect his players from burnout after the World Cup. He was criticised for leaving out Kieran Trippier and Toby Alderweireld as Spurs lost their Champions League opener at Inter Milan, but will not change his policy.
‘You need to have a plan,’ said Pochettino. ‘You cannot change it if you win or lose. If we don’t win, everyone is going to criticise even more. The first one responsible is me. I’m so relaxed. It’s still the beginning of the season. There are many games to play and the potential of the team is massive. It’s important to stop the negativity.’