My destiny is linked to Mauricio Pochettino: Hugo Lloris

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has said that his future at the White Hart Lane is linked with the future of their manager Mauricio Pochettino.

The 30-year-old goalkeeper had signed a new contract, which will keep him at the club till 2022, with the London-based club in December 2016. However, his long-term future at the club remains in doubt. Speaking to Le Figaro, Lloris has hinted that he might move away from the club if Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino departs in the summer.

“My destiny is linked to Mauricio, it’s a certainty.

“He matters a lot to me. Our relationship goes beyond football, it’s a match, and one day he will be the best manager in the world. For me, he is already. His presence and our relationship are the most important elements for me,” Lloris, who is currently on international duty with the French national team, told Le Figaro.

Pochettino, whose still has four more years left on his contract with Spurs, has drawn a lot of interest from various European clubs after making his mark in the Premier League, first with Southampton and now with Tottenham Hotspur. Spanish giants Barcelona, who will have to find a replacement for their outgoing manager Luis Enrique, have been linked with a move for the Argentine while French champions PSG are keen on signing both Lloris and Pochettino. If either of the two clubs come calling in the summer, it seems unlikely that Pochettino will turn them down, and his departure might see the French international follow him out of the White Hart Lane.

Hugo Lloris has made 200 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur since joining them from Lyon in 2012. The custodian has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, but the Frenchman is yet to win a trophy with Spurs. They were knocked out of the Europa League recently after a 3-2 aggregate defeat against Gent and now, the FA Cup seems to be their best bet for a silverware this season.

Speaking about his ambition to win accolades, Lloris told Le Figaro, “There are things you cannot refuse, but that does not mean I am desperate. There are some teams that demand admiration, they are monsters for what they have done in their past, and in 10 or 15 years they will win again.

“Tottenham is not a club that always wins, but we are trying to create something. It’s not easy to fight against European monsters but it is a motivation.”

Tottenham are currently second in the points table, 10 points behind the league leaders Chelsea. It seems unlikely that Pochettino’s men will overtake their London rivals by the end of this season. It has been a case of so near, yet so far for Spurs in the last two seasons. Last season, they somehow managed to finish third behind Leicester City and Arsenal, despite being in contention for the title for most of the season.

Image – Getty