Football
Dan Kilpatrick, Tottenham Correspondent 7y

Hugo Lloris 'frustrated' by Tottenham's recent performances in Europe

NEW YORK -- Hugo Lloris admits he has been frustrated by Tottenham's lack of progress in Europe since he joined the club, and says it is down to a lack of experience.

Lloris reached the Champions League semifinal with Lyon in 2010 but his best European run with Spurs has been to the quarterfinals of the Europa League under Andre Villas-Boas in 2012.

Last season, Spurs crashed out of the group stage of the Champions League, beating only CSKA Moscow before losing over two legs to KAA Gent in the Europa League round of 32.

The 30-year-old, who joined Spurs in 2012, says Spurs have the potential to do better and has challenged them to take their Premier League form into the Champions League next season.

"It's been five seasons now that I'm with Spurs and I've got a little bit frustrated about Europe," the France goalkeeper said at a Friends of the High Line event in New York ahead of Tottenham's match against AS Roma in the International Champions Cup on Tuesday.

"We've got the talent to go further than we've done. Even in the Champions League -- the highest level possible -- we have the potential to reach another level. Hopefully this season we can prove our real value against the best teams in Europe and go as far as possible, even if the first target is to get out of the group stage.

"For many of the players last season, it was their first experience of the Champions League, we can say whatever we want but there is always a first time in your career and it's like the Euros for the English players.

"We know the talent and the potential but it's step by step. You cannot arrive one day and get to the highest level. You need to go through different experiences. I believe a lot in this team and the club.

"Through different experiences two years ago, last season and the Champions, even if it was a failure from us, it's important to go through different situations to grow up all together. As usual, we will try to compete and be competitive against the other clubs.

"The best example is the way we have competed for the last two seasons in the Premier League. I think we have been able to get such great performances in the Premier League and we just need to repeat that in the Champions League. Hopefully that will happen this year."

Spurs' struggles in last season's Champions League were blamed on a lack of squad depth but they are the only Premier League club yet to make a summer signing -- and they have sold Kyle Walker to rivals Manchester City for £50 million.

By contrast, the other four English clubs in the competition have spent lavishly, with City's spending already over the £200m mark.

"I trust my club, I trust my manager and the chairman," Lloris said. "I don't know what will happen for Tottenham in the next few weeks. I am looking around in Europe in the transfer market but I am just thinking about Tottenham but I know in the Premier League it's getting harder every season but that's why I love the Premier League -- it's the most competitive league in the world, every week is a big fight. That's why I enjoy it.

"In the last two or three seasons, we're building something strong. It's about the concept, it's about basics and one thing can that can help us is knowing each other so well. We're used to working together for a long time now and that's a strength.

"We need to keep that. Every season the level has to be a step up -- individually and collectively. We have a lot of ambition in our squad even if it's still a young team."

Asked if other players could follow Walker in leaving, Lloris said: "In football, anything can happen. We all have individual ambition. Even if we belong to a club, then it's about decisions -- the chairman, the manager, the players. But I repeat: all the players are enjoying their time at Tottenham.

"We're all ambitious, we all want success with Tottenham. That's the way to think, the way to work. Under Mauricio Pochettino, we know we'll be read to compete again this season."

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