Advertisement

Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris explains why playing at Wembley requires a different approach

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris gestures
Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris gestures

Captain Hugo Lloris says it is important for Tottenham to build some confidence at Wembley, admitting it has been difficult to replicate the feeling of dominance that the Lilywhites enjoyed at White Hart Lane last season.

Spurs had the best home record in the Premier League last term, completing the campaign unbeaten in front of their own fans while winning 17 of their 19 top-flight fixtures in N17.

However, their stadium has now been demolished and Mauricio Pochettino’s side are having to spend a year at Wembley, where they have a poor record.

Tottenham started the season with only one win out of nine competitive matches at the national arena – and they have since lost 2-1 to Chelsea before being held to a 1-1 draw by Burnley on Sunday.

READ MORE: Four Chelsea escape routes for Diego Costa

READ MORE: Why Liverpool still can’t afford to lose Coutinho

READ MORE: Dembele completes mega Barcelona move

“Wembley is a different place and it demands more effort in your mind, in your body, and then we need to try to find the right feeling, find confidence so that step by step it will arrive,” said Lloris. “We need to make sure that kind of scenario will not happen again.

“I think it could have happened at White Hart Lane too. From the beginning when you don’t win your two home games, you start to lose a bit of confidence, and you can feel the same in the crowd.

“You can feel the opponent building confidence and it’s not easy – especially after a season like last one.

“We were unbeaten [at home], we could have played eyes closed. We were fantastic. But the most important thing is to keep our belief, keep working hard, and it will happen.”

Spurs were moments away from winning at Wembley on Sunday but they threw away their 1-0 lead against Burnley in the 92nd minute as Chris Wood equalised.

READ MORE: Liverpool agree to sign Keita next summer

READ MORE: Liverpool make club-record Lemar bid

READ MORE: Bale to Man United rumours resurface

READ MORE: Lampard on rumours Conte could quit Chelsea

“The way the game ended, it’s very frustrating,” said Lloris. “We need to do better. A game like that, you need to kill it. We had some good chances to score but we didn’t do it. The keeper made some good saves too.

“We should have managed better the chance for the Burnley goal. It’s a cruel scenario but it’s football.

“The problem is, if you don’t kill the game, being 1-0 up is not enough because Burnley are still in the game. It’s a very good team, they run a lot and make a lot of effort.

Hugo Lloris gifted the points to Chelsea at Wembley
Hugo Lloris gifted the points to Chelsea at Wembley

“To make sure we get the three points we need to kill the game, or you need to be very strong until the end, and that was not the case.

“I do think we should have managed the end of the game better, but we cannot replay it. It’s finished now and we need to think about that and improve individually, improve collectively, and make sure that kind of scenario will not happen again.”

For now, all eyes are on the final two days of the summer transfer window. And, while Lloris is now on international duty with France – who host the Netherlands in a World Cup qualifier on deadline day – the Spurs skipper admits he will be as interested as anyone in the big moves.

“When you like football you follow the actuality, and for sure a lot of things will happen in the next few days,” he said. “But it’s not easy as it’s an international date and you must be focused on the next game.

“The next game for us is Thursday – it’s very important for the future of the national team – so we’ll see what will happen.

“I’m not sure there’s a lot of [France] players involved, except maybe [Kylian] Mbappe! But no, we are professional. I think we understand it’s a very important moment for the national team and we will do our best to win the next few games.”

Follow me on Twitter @BenPearceSpurs and visit my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BenPearceSpurs/