Hugo Lloris Blames Tottenham Players for Problems, Not Mauricio Pochettino

Hugo Lloris insists the Tottenham Hotspur players are to blame for their woeful start to the Premier League season, not manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Tottenham once again entered the season with hopes of challenging for a Champions League qualification spot but their disappointing form under the Argentine coach has seen them slide to 12<sup>th in the league after 11 games.

Pochettino became the 10<sup>th manager in 13 years to be handed the reins by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy. And having seen both Andre Villas-Boas and Tim Sherwood leave the club in the past year, France international Lloris believes their problems can be blamed on the players rather than the string of managers who have come and gone.

"When it is the third coach in a year and there are problems, perhaps it is not necessarily the coach that is the problem," Lloris told L'Equipe. "Even so, we work, we try to find solutions."

Lloris, who arrived in north London from Lyon in 2012, found himself linked with a move away from Spurs following their failure to qualify for the Champions League last season.

The Frenchman ended such speculation, however, by penning a new five-year contract, a decision he has no regrets over.

"I have faith in the technical staff, in the coach," Lloris continued. "I had similar periods at Lyon, but at OL there was real pressure on a daily basis and crisis management.

"We are more on our own in London, where we are comfortable. We have to get ourselves out of that, because if we have to fight against relegation, comfort isn't going to help us. It really worries me for the coach."

Tottenham visit Hull City following the international break before they welcome Everton to White Hart Lane, where they have won just two of six games all season.