Hugo Lloris has labelled Tottenham‘s Europa League exit a “disgrace” following their 3-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday evening.
Jose Mourinho’s side took a 2-0 lead to the Croatian capital after defeating Dinamo at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Two goals from Harry Kane put in them in a strong position to advance to the quarter-finals.
A hat-trick from Mislav Orsic in last night’s second leg, however, sent the Croatian side through in their first game under new coach Damir Krznar.
On Tuesday, Zoran Mamic, who coached the side in the first leg, resigned after receiving a near-five year prison sentence for fraud.
After the defeat, Spurs captain Lloris certainly didn’t pull any punches when asked for his assessment of his side’s display.
Speaking to BT Sport, he said: “I think we are all more than disappointed.
“It’s just a disgrace.
“I just hope everyone in the changing room feels responsible for the situation, because it’s a disgrace.
“What more can I say about it? Talking about the game from Sunday, I think it is not the right moment.”
“The taste of the defeat tonight is just more than painful and we are all responsible for that.”
“When you are not ready at this level you pay”
Lloris then pointed out what he felt was going wrong in terms of the team’s performances, when asked about whether last weekend’s 2-1 North London Derby defeat to Arsenal was worse than their Europa League exit.
“Obviously we are a club which is full of ambition but I just think the team at the moment is a reflection of what’s going on in the club,” he said.
“We have lack of basics, lack of fundamentals. All of the performances are just in relation of that.
“I think mentally we should be stronger, we should be more competitive.
“Today I didn’t feel that on the field, unfortunately, when you are not ready at this level you pay straight away.
“It doesn’t matter who the opponent is. There’s quality everywhere in Europe and if you don’t respect the opponent it is punishing”
The Frenchman then went to address the ways in which the players need to improve.
He explained: “The way we play is not enough.
“One thing is to come in front of the camera and say ‘I’m ambitious’ – the other thing is to show every day in training sessions, to show every time on the pitch.
“You cannot let it down if you play, or not play.
“To behave as a team is the most difficult thing in football. Whatever is the decision of the manager, you have to follow the way of the team.
“If you follow the team only when you are in the starting XI it causes big problems for the team because you pay on the one moment, you’re going to pay in your season.”
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