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‘It’s very difficult’: Hugo Lloris admits he is struggling mentally and physically to get past the World Cup… after Tottenham goalkeeper made costly mistakes against Arsenal and Man City
Hugo Lloris has admitted he is suffering from a post-World Cup hangover after several recent mistakes have cost his team.
The Tottenham captain retired from France service after Les Bleus lost the Qatari tournament final on penalties against Argentina in December.
Since returning to Spurs, the veteran Lloris, 36, has made several high-profile mistakes, opening himself up to the physical and mental struggle of readjusting to life at his club.
Hugo Lloris has admitted that he suffers from a post-World Cup hangover after several mistakes that have cost him dearly
Lloris retired from France service after losing the Qatar tournament final against Argentina
He said: ‘You have to keep in mind that it’s not a normal season. Since the beginning of September, we have played every three days until the World Cup.
Then, when you finish the World Cup, for the players who reached the final, in a week you have to go back to your club and repeat every three or four days. So it’s very difficult mentally, but also physically, to stay as good as possible.
‘But that’s the demand of the competition this year. Even if sometimes you can face difficulties, you just don’t give up, you want to continue, you want to push and you want to be ready for the important period of the season.
The Tottenham goalkeeper has been criticized for the latest mistakes by Antonio Conte’s team
The 36-year-old Spurs veteran was battered at his near post by Riyad Mahrez’s shot against Man City
‘We know we have a points deficit and we have to run behind the others to be in the top four. But there are a lot of games and we have to stay confident and positive, and we also want to reach the level that should be ours.”
In the north London derby against bitter rivals Arsenal, Lloris allowed a Bukayo Saka cross to slip through his hands and into the field, before a Riyad Mahrez finisher beat him at the near post against Manchester City.
Antonio Conte’s side face promoted to Fulham on Monday night knowing that a victory for the Cottagers would see them edge past Lloris and Co.