Lloris reveal claims that made him ask if Spurs ‘really want to win’

Hugo Lloris recently opened up about an incident during his time with Tottenham Hotspur that made him question the club’s ambition and mentality. After 12 years with Spurs, including a long period as captain, Lloris left the club without securing a trophy.

His tenure saw close calls, like two League Cup final defeats and a 2-0 loss to Liverpool in the 2019 Champions League final, which was tainted by an early penalty after a controversial handball decision.

But what unsettled Lloris the most wasn’t just the loss itself; it was a pre-final gesture from Tottenham’s chairman, Daniel Levy.

In his upcoming autobiography, Earning My Spurs, Lloris describes how, just days before the Champions League final, Levy gathered the players to present each of them with a luxury watch, engraved with “Champions League Finalist 2019.”

While initially excited by the gift, Lloris and his teammates quickly noticed the “Finalist” inscription. To Lloris, this felt like settling for second place even before the match had taken place.

He reflected on how Real Madrid or other clubs with a winning mentality would never have celebrated a runner-up position in such a manner. He questioned if this was indicative of a broader issue within the club—a tolerance for near misses rather than a relentless drive to win.

Lloris’s reflections reveal a mindset clash. He has significant respect for Levy’s achievements and dedication as chairman, yet moments like these made him feel the club wasn’t fully committed to winning titles.

Lloris explains that, as beautiful as the watch was, he has never worn it, believing that the engraving symbolized an acceptance of second best. In his words, “If we’d won, he wouldn’t have asked for the watches back to have ‘Winner’ engraved instead.” He recalls feeling that Levy was missing an understanding of what truly motivates players at the top level.

The aftermath of the final seemed to compound Lloris’s disillusionment. At the post-match reception, he noticed a sense of acceptance among some club members and players, as if the loss was not as devastating as it should have been.

He would have appreciated someone coming up to him with a promise to prevent such disappointments in the future. Reflecting on this lack of urgency, Lloris mentions how he shared a mutual sense of frustration with then-manager Mauricio Pochettino and teammate Harry Kane.

This shared sentiment left them all wondering if the club truly had the ambition to reach the heights of teams like Real Madrid.

Lloris’s tenure at Tottenham ended in April 2023, as he departed to join Los Angeles FC, marking the close of his time with the club. In leaving, he took with him bittersweet memories of near victories and unfulfilled potential.

Throughout his years at Spurs, he remained one of the most respected goalkeepers in the game and earned the title of France’s most capped male footballer, a testament to his leadership and resilience on and off the pitch.

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