Hugo Lloris hints at civil unrest at Tottenham in blockbuster post-match interview

19 March 2021 12:15

Tottenham Hotspur captain Hugo Lloris was passionate in his assessment of Spurs' Europa League defeat to Dinamo Zagreb, saying the collapse was a reflection on 'what is going on at the club'.

Spurs held a 2-0 lead from the first leg of the last 16 tie, but were beaten 3-0 by Dinamo in extra-time on Thursday.

Lloris faced the BT Sport cameras post-game and didn't mince his words.

"I think we are all more than disappointed. It's just a disgrace. I just hope everyone in the changing room feels responsible of the situation because it's a disgrace," he began.

"Now what can I say more about it? Talking about the game on Sunday? I think it's not the right moment. The taste of the defeat tonight is just more than painful and we are all responsible of that.

"Obviously we are a club full of ambition but I just think that the team at the moment is just a reflection of what is going on in the club. We have a lack of basics, lack of fundamentals. And all of the performances are just in relation of that. I think mentally we should be stronger, we should be more competitive. Today I didn't feel that on the field unfortunately. When you're not ready at this level you pay straight away.

"The blame is on us. All the team, all the club, we are guilty."

Lloris was asked to clarify his comments, and added: "I don't have to go deep. It's not possible. The way we play is just not enough. One thing is to come in front of the camera and say 'I'm ambitious'. The other thing is to show everyday in training sessions, on the pitch. You cannot let it down, if you play or not play.

"To behave as a team is the most difficult thing in football. Whatever is the decision of the manager, you have to follow the way of the team. If you follow the team only when you are in the starting XI, that causes big problems for the team because you pay in one moment. You're going to pay in your season.

"Today I think is the consequence of that. We had a great moment in the past because we could trust the togetherness that was in the team. Today, I don't know, I'm not sure of that."

Mislav Orsic scored a tie-winning hat-trick | Pixsell/MB Media/Getty Images

Spurs went into half-time in the second leg with their two-goal aggregate lead in tact, but Dinamo made more chances and eventually clawed their way back into the tie on what will will now be remembered as an infamous night for Tottenham.

"When we started to realise we were in trouble, it was too late," Lloris admitted. "The confidence was back inside the Zagreb team and the game became even harder. But this was the story of the game. It's done, we cannot change unfortunately.

"It's a disgrace from us, and we can only feel sorry for the fans because every year they are full of hopes and again this competition would mean a lot, but now we have to be back on basics on a routine and fight again in the league to get back into this competition next season.

Harry Kane had a winner cleared off the line deep into extra-time | Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images

"I think we all belong to the team. Football is not about individual players. It's not because two, three, four players are going to step up - it's not enough, we need more than that. It's something that we must understand. On the bench there is an influence to have, to push the others. In training sessions it's the same, everyone has to be ready to push and make sure he's ready to help the team when the moment comes.

"It's not only stay inside and complain, because at the end we have to respect the badge, this is the most important thing. It's over all the players in the place and we have to respect the badge."

Source: 90min