Southampton V Tottenham Hotspur at St. Mary's Stadium : Match Preview

27 December 2016 21:35
Southampton V Tottenham Hotspur - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Saints manager Claude Puel believes goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is Spurs' key man

Claude Puel says Hugo Lloris is Tottenham's most important player - and the Southampton manager is well placed to know.

The French goalkeeper last week became the latest star to sign a new contract at Spurs, committing himself to the club until 2022.

Puel signed Lloris while he was boss of Ligue 1 side Lyon and helped mould him into the 'sweeper keeper' which Spurs snapped up four years ago.

He also made Lloris his captain, a position the 29-year-old now holds at White Hart Lane.

But on Wednesday the Saints boss has to find a way past his former protege when Tottenham head to St Mary's.

"He's an important player for Tottenham because he is clinical every time, he will make saves in every game," said Puel.

"The most important player at Tottenham, he has a good level, good quality, character, and he's a good captain.

"He was my player at Lyon and I gave him the role of captain, He was a young player but always an important player. It was important for Tottenham to keep him with a new contract.

"I made him captain because he sets an example, inside and outside the ground. He gives good words, good sentences about the game. He always recognises the situation. It's a good thing for a trainer to have a player like him.

"Before Lyon he played at Nice, and when he came to Lyon at one point he made progress with the ball.

"He worked with the long ball and short passes and on good control also. At the beginning of his career it was not his first quality but now a goalkeeper with good feet is important for that style of play."

Wednesday's clash will also see Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino come up against some familiar faces as he returns to the club he managed until moving to north London in 2014.

Pochettino got a hostile reception when he first returned to St Mary's with Spurs but Puel wants the fans to concentrate on getting behind the home side.

"I think it's important our fans keep all of their support for their players and the team, to give us a strong spirit to try to make a good result," he added.

"It's an important game for us. I wish Pochettino a good comeback with good support, but I wish for a good result for us."

Although he may not receive a warm welcome, Pochettino is looking forward to seeing one of his old charges again, with Jay Rodriguez having returned to form following a tough spell with injury.

Rodriguez scored 17 goals in 2013-14 during Pochettino's final season in charge at Southampton but an excellent campaign ended in anguish after he ruptured ligaments in his right knee against Manchester City.

The forward looked back to his best, however, in Southampton's 3-1 win at Bournemouth as he scored twice, the second a superb long-range strike.

"I was very happy. I sent him a text," Pochettino said.

"I was happy to see him on the pitch again. He suffered a very bad injury and I remember, fresh in my mind, that day at Manchester City.

"He's a top player, a top man and we were happy to see him score against Bournemouth.

"Now though we will suffer him because he will be our enemy and our opponent. But I'm happy he's back to his level. He's a top person."

Spurs sit only a point behind Arsenal and fourth place but they can ill afford any slip-ups if they are to stay in touch with in-form leaders Chelsea.


Source: PAR