Hugo Lloris believes Tottenham could have won the Premier League if not for one key decision. It has been over 15 years since Tottenham last won a trophy, but they have come close several times. They reached multiple cup finals, including the Champions League final, and finished second in the Premier League in the 2016/17 season.
Under Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham seemed to be on the verge of winning a title. However, in the 2017/18 season, their challenge faltered. Lloris recently shared his thoughts on this during an interview on BBC Radio Five Live. He said that Tottenham had the potential to win the Premier League, but their move to Wembley disrupted their momentum.
Tottenham had to play at Wembley temporarily while their new stadium was being built. Lloris wondered how things might have been different if Spurs had stayed at their old White Hart Lane stadium for one more year. He felt that, at the time, the team was ready to compete for the title. But after moving to Wembley, they struggled to make it feel like their home ground.
Lloris admitted that the team kept its consistency, managing to finish in the top four and qualify for the Champions League, but they missed out on winning a trophy. He mentioned that Tottenham reached three finals during that period but couldn’t win any of them.
He explained that the team was in a good position to win the league and was performing well, particularly at home. Spurs had a strong record at White Hart Lane, but playing at Wembley was a different experience. Lloris said that playing at Wembley made it harder for the team to maintain their strong form. They began dropping points early in the 2017/18 season, especially at home, and that made a difference by the end of the year.
Lloris pointed out that White Hart Lane was a “fortress” for Tottenham before they left it. But at Wembley, the team lost time trying to adjust to their temporary home. Even though they had a talented squad, they couldn’t keep up the same level of performance.
In the 2016/17 season, Tottenham had an impressive home record, winning 17 games, drawing 2, and losing none. They earned 51 points at home that year. In comparison, during the 2017/18 season, Tottenham only won 13 home games, drew 4, and lost 2. They finished with 43 points at home, a significant drop. However, even if Tottenham had been perfect at home, it might not have been enough to win the title.
Manchester City dominated that season, finishing with a record-breaking 100 points. Tottenham had little room for error in the 2017/18 season. Lloris reflected on his time at Tottenham with regret, particularly about not winning any trophies. He has been critical of the club’s lack of ambition, especially before the 2019 Champions League final, and seems to still struggle with why his team couldn’t win more.
Overall, Lloris believes that the team had the right ingredients to succeed, but certain circumstances, like moving to Wembley, stopped them from reaching their full potential. The decision to leave White Hart Lane was a part of the club’s evolution, but it also played a role in Tottenham’s missed opportunities during that period.
