Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has accused Hugo Lloris’ critics of having short memories – and of making the goalkeeper a scapegoat for recent poor results.
Lloris received widespread condemnation for his red card following a reckless challenge in Spurs’ 2-2 Champions League draw at PSV, which came with his side in total control at 2-1 up.
The Dutch outfit went on to equalise and make Spurs’ chances of progressing out of the group stage highly unlikely.
It compounded a difficult start to the season for Lloris, who has struggled with a hamstring injury and also admitted a charge of drink-driving at Westminster Magistrates Court in August.
Wednesday’s mistake at PSV came just days after his man-of-the-match performance against West Ham and Pochettino believes Lloris deserves more respect, insisting he is one of the best keepers in the world.
“Football is about being good, sometimes not so good,” he said. “But for me Hugo is one of the best keepers in the world and he was man of the match a few days before we played against PSV.
“Against PSV I think he’s not guilty about the result. In football sometimes that type of action can happen.
“For me it wasn’t a sending-off, it was only a yellow card, but in the end we drew the game and it put us in a very difficult situation to quality for the next stage of the Champions League.
“I’m so objective – he’s one of the best, for sure. I think in all the games we won he was very important and was one of the best players on the pitch.
“Then he didn’t play against Watford, Liverpool and Inter, and we lost games. I think in football we have short memories.
“I remember after Watford it was like [people said], ‘Oh, we miss Hugo’.
“We have short memories and against West Ham I think the victory, in a big percentage, was because of Hugo because he was unbelievable. The performance was brilliant.”
Pochettino believes criticism of Lloris is part of a blame culture but says any accountability should be placed at his door.
He added: “I think we need to find someone responsible when you don’t win, but I told you after the game, the responsibility is mine and the first to blame, I allow you and the fans to blame me, not the players.
“The players can make a mistake because they are on the pitch. You can always make a mistake.
“It’s about the attitude and the whole squad has showed from the beginning of the season a fantastic attitude and we cannot blame one or another.”