Hugo Lloris has reflected on Tottenham’s near-miss in their quest for a Premier League title, suggesting that a crucial decision in 2017 could have made all the difference.
The Wembley challenge: Spurs’ disrupted title hopes
It has now been more than 15 years since Tottenham last lifted a trophy, a barren spell that has weighed heavily on fans and players alike. During that time, Spurs have come agonisingly close to silverware, with multiple cup final appearances and a Premier League runners-up finish in 2016/17.
Under Mauricio Pochettino, the team seemed primed for success, with a strong squad that could challenge for major honours. However, the 2017/18 campaign proved to be a painful reminder of how fleeting opportunities can be in football.
For much of that period, Tottenham looked like a club on the verge of breaking through, yet something always seemed to hold them back.
Whether it was the fine margins in big matches or the difficulties that came with an evolving squad, Spurs were often left to reflect on what might have been.
One major factor, according to Hugo Lloris, was the disruption caused by moving from the beloved White Hart Lane to the temporary home of Wembley for the 2017/18 season.
Lloris reflects on what might have been: Spurs’ near-miss at the title
Hugo Lloris, one of the key figures in that team, has spoken candidly about the impact of this change in environment. In a recent interview, he admitted that Spurs were perhaps the closest they had ever been to winning the Premier League, but a disrupted home campaign and the resulting loss of momentum proved costly.
In a discussion with the BBC Radio Five Live Football Daily Podcast, the former Tottenham Hotspur captain raised the question of what might have been had Spurs stayed at White Hart Lane for just one more season.
He said: “My big question, and I say it in the book, is what would’ve happened if we had to stay one more year at the old White Hart Lane, you know? Because when we left this stadium, I think we were more ready than ever to compete for the Prem. But we had to move to Wembley and to adapt to a new stadium and try to make it like our own stadium,”
“But it was not the case. And this difficulty, we managed to keep the consistency. We managed to stay in the top four and to qualify for Champions League. So it was still positive, you know? But the only miss that we can feel is probably the trophy. We had three finals that we didn’t win.”
“I think this group of players, and Mauricio at that time was ready to win. Then you don’t know in football, it’s so unpredictable. But this feeling that we had, staying unbeaten at home for the whole season, we were getting close, but it’s part of the story of the club.
“There was a decision, and it was part of the evolution of the club, moving to a bigger stadium. And I think today all the Spurs fans are so proud of this stadium. It’s just one of the best football stadiums of the world.”
“Did you realise quite quickly when you had to play temporarily at Wembley that even though you had that great team, which, like you said, was ready to win, that it was going to be harder for you to do that there?” Lloris was asked.
“We started to drop points really early, and those points can make the difference at the end of the year, especially at home. At home, you just want the perfect way, and we lost time to find reference. You know, White Hart Lane, before we left, was kind of a fortress.”
What if? Evaluating Tottenham’s lost chance and its lasting impact
While it’s easy to speculate about what might have been, the reality is that the Premier League title was always going to be a tough ask that season.
Even had Spurs maintained perfect form at home, they still would have needed to overcome a Manchester City side in extraordinary form. However, the feeling of ‘what if’ lingers, especially for those like Lloris who were at the heart of the team.