Hugo Lloris: Mauricio Pochettino is my 'closest' manager relationship
Saturday 3 March 2018 18:41, UK
Mauricio Pochettino and Hugo Lloris have enjoyed a strong bond ever since the first day they met at Tottenham Hotspur, and the Argentine's captain says the relationship the two share is the closest he has ever had with a manager.
Despite the initial pitfalls of their rented home at Wembley, Pochettino has still inspired the club to keep fighting on three fronts with a valuable away draw at Juventus in the last-16 of the Champions League, a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, and the realistic proposition of another runners-up spot in the Premier League still alive.
The Spurs boss is known for his openness with his players and the way in which he considers the mental side of the game, something which helped him lead Spurs to their best finish since 1963 last season, and has blossomed with skipper Lloris perhaps more than anyone.
"I don't like to compare it, I've always had a good relationship with my managers - but I can't hide that it's maybe the closest," the goalkeeper told Sky Sports. "We have a great relationship, as manager and player and as men.
"I think from the first moment I understood his philosophy in football, and I try to go between the team and him to act as a leader, even if I have to think about myself too.
"He likes to share, he likes to chat. He is open to discussing football and the thoughts of his players. This is why he works so well, because he's open about some things even if his concept is very dominant at Tottenham."
Lloris is almost gushing in his admiration of the man who made him Spurs captain nearly three years ago.
But his belief the 46-year-old is the best person to unleash the club's full potential is based on more than the club's superb results over the past few seasons.
He said: "I can feel the improvement not only on the field or with results, but on the training ground. I think the chairman picked the best person to get the potential out of this club with Mauricio.
"It's been a lot of work, but we're in a good place and we want to carry on and keep working together to achieve great things.
"I think his main skill is his energy. This is what he has changed inside this building, a new energy, very positive, and you can see the spirit is fantastic inside the changing room and on the training ground.
"The mentality of work, that's a part of his philosophy to work hard, and I think now all the players have the same point of view.
"We have a lot of potential but we are ready to compete against any team, and there is plenty of appetite for titles. We need to win a trophy, and hopefully more will come, but obviously it's hard work."
Spurs have emerged unscathed through a tough run of games - including Manchester United, Juventus, Arsenal and Liverpool - and are unbeaten since they were humbled by Manchester City at the Etihad on December 16.
Any footballer would say the next game is always the biggest, but Lloris is thinking about the implications of a poor performance against relegation-threatened Huddersfield Town this weekend, with fifth-placed Chelsea snapping on Spurs' heels and the race for the top four still wide open.
"You're playing for your future at this point of the season," he said. "Every point can make a difference. The Champions League is a bit separate. It's a fantastic competition to play in and enjoy.
"We need to look forward. It means we need to prepare for the next game against Huddersfield, against Juventus and Bournemouth and then we will see for the next few after that.
"But it's step-by-step, game-by-game, and we need to build confidence through the next few games to show we are in good shape."
