Hugo Lloris, having spent years under the intense spotlight of international football and the Premier League, now finds himself in a more relaxed environment in Los Angeles. "I woke up this morning and had breakfast with my kids," he says with a smile, recounting his day. "Then I took them to school, and the weather here is just fantastic. Even before our interview, I went for a walk in shorts and a T-shirt... in November." Lloris chuckles, still somewhat amazed by the contrast.
Our conversation takes place on the eve of the American presidential election, and Lloris notes, "Tomorrow is a big day, and what surprises me is how openly people display their voting preferences. You see signs outside their homes. In Europe, we tend to be more discreet about such things." Despite the sunny optimism in California, the election results brought a shadow. Donald Trump secured only 40.1% of the vote in California, compared to Kamala Harris' 57.3%, but his national victory was resounding. Lloris, when discussing Trump's enduring popularity, offers a typically French shrug: "I know, but America is a vast country with diverse mentalities and expectations."
Life moves on, and Lloris is now relishing his new role at Los Angeles FC, which topped the Western Conference in the MLS. The Eastern Conference champions, Inter Miami, boasted a star-studded, aging squad led by Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Sergio Busquets. This brings back memories of the 2022 World Cup final, where Lloris and Messi captained France and Argentina in a thrilling match. Argentina won on penalties after a 3-3 draw, and in his book, Lloris reflects on the lingering pain: "People thanked me for the beauty and intensity of the final, calling it the best match they'd ever seen. Maybe in time I'll see it that way, but right now, it feels like a disaster because we lost."
Lloris has amassed 145 caps for France and led his country to consecutive World Cup finals, winning in 2018. He also captained France in their Euro 2016 final loss and played for Spurs in their 2019 Champions League final defeat. Understanding the fine line between winning and losing, Lloris was perplexed by Daniel Levy's gesture four days before the Liverpool game. Levy gifted each player a luxury watch engraved with "Champions League Finalist 2019." Lloris was baffled: "Who does that at such a moment?" he writes in his book. "I still haven't gotten over it."
Lloris' disdain has since softened slightly. "It was a nice gesture from Daniel, but it was a bit odd," he says. "You receive a lovely gift, but that detail shows you're not accustomed to being in such a position." Lloris never asked Levy to explain his reasoning, preferring not to embarrass him. "The general feeling among the players was: 'Why? What is this? We haven't even started the game.'"
Lloris remains diplomatic, acknowledging Levy's significant contributions to Spurs. "When I look at the club's position when I arrived in 2012 and when I left this January, it's a different club," he says. Despite the frequent managerial changes and the lack of trophies since 2008, Lloris believes the sacking of Pochettino was a mistake and was bewildered by Mourinho's dismissal days before the 2021 Carabao Cup final.
Lloris believes Spurs' rise under Pochettino needed support after the 2019 Champions League final. "The club was in a position to enhance their progress, but Levy chose to wait," he says. Lloris is more forgiving of Levy now, especially as he and Pochettino are both content in America. "Spurs have been active in the transfer market, investing in new players and creating a new dynamic," he says. "After the Champions League final, the club wasn't ready to invest due to the new stadium and Covid."
Lloris closely follows Spurs and believes they are on the right track. "They have a proper football style and mentality," he says. "Ange Postecoglou has brought exactly what the club needed—freshness and new fan expectations." Lloris' book offers insights into playing under Conte and Mourinho, whom he describes as more likable than his reputation suggests.
In MLS, Lloris finds the standard higher than expected. "If you come to the MLS thinking you can relax, you're wrong," he says. "It's more competitive than people think." Lloris negotiated his LAFC deal without an agent, a rarity in football. "I like to listen to agents, but I believe a normal person has expectations when applying for a new job," he says. "I took a lot of advice and worked with lawyers."
Lloris has a one-year contract with LAFC, with options for two more years. "I want to go year-by-year because I don't know if I'll be mentally ready to continue," he says. "But surprisingly, I feel really good. The Premier League is intense, and there's a lot of pressure when you're the national captain. I needed something new and fresh."
Source link: https://www.theguardian.com
