Mauricio Pochettino says Hugo Lloris will retain the club captaincy at Tottenham but warned the French World Cup winner he had been lucky to escape his drink-driving escapades with only a criminal conviction and a hefty fine.
Goalkeeper Lloris, 31, was fined £50,000 and banned from driving for 20 months on Wednesday after being convicted of drink-driving in his £140,000 Porsche.
In court on Wednesday, embarrassing details emerged as it was revealed how Lloris, while driving at only 15mph in a 30mph zone, dodged red lights and veered 'towards parked vehicles' before being stopped by police in the early hours of Friday, August 24.
A breathalyser test on the scene found Lloris to have been over twice the drink drive limit. There was vomit inside the car and Lloris needed to be helped from the vehicle.
Yet Lloris, who is out of Saturday's clash at home against Liverpool and will miss several weeks with a thigh strain, remains the Tottenham captain. The club have already fined the Frenchman two weeks wages, estimated to be worth £300,000. Tottenham will also be without Dele Alli after he picked up a hamstring injury on international duty.
Manager Pochettino said: 'I think of course he is the first to regret about everything. All that happened (in court) is not good and he does not feel great. He said he was guilty and responsible. The most important is that everyone can make a mistake and he is suffering a punishment and also a feeling that society translates to him.
'He is punishing himself. We are not God and can not judge people. We can all make a mistake. It is a massive lesson for everyone. He said "Gaffer, I made a mistake. Now I need to pay like a man". Like a man that he is, he is going to accept everything.'
After initially being charged at the end of August, Pochettino stood by his goalkeeper and allowed him to wear the captain's armband in the 3-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
When asked whether Lloris had offered to give up the club captaincy, Pochettino said: 'He apologised to everyone. The staff, the club, the fans, us, and he said "Any decision that you take gaffer, or the club, I think is fair".
'He already knew in the moment that it was a big mistake. Of course all the people can make a mistake. Of course he is lucky there was no consequence. That is important. And of course now it is a massive lesson for him, a life lesson. Because he is a clever, he learns and now he is going to move on.'
For Pochettino, it is the latest in a series of complications at the beginning of this campaign.
To accompany his captain's drink driving, Tottenham's financial commitment to building their new stadium culminating in the manager being unable to buy a single player in the transfer market and the club's proposed move-in date to the new White Hart Lane remains uncertain, with a Carabao Cup fixture against Watford now having to be played at MK Dons' ground.
A report emerged on Thursday suggesting Tottenham may not move in to their new stadium until March due to an issue with the ground's sprinkler system.
'I am learning a lot!' Pochettino joked. 'You learn that today football is not only what happens on the pitch, it's many things that happen around and we need to be ready to deal with all these situations that in the end affect the result on the pitch.
'And of course it's more complicated today to be a manager than 20 or 30 years ago.'
Pochettino is also frustrated by the absence of Alli for both the visit of Liverpool and then the trip to Inter Milan on Tuesday evening as the club launch their Champions League campaign.
Alli suffered a hamstring injury against Spain in the first-half and Tottenham are privately frustrated that the midfielder then completed the game. The club also felt he played while carrying an injury at times during the World Cup this summer.
Pochettino said: 'Alli is a bit unlucky, he suffered an injury after 20 minutes against Spain. We are disappointed because we're going to miss him for this game and possibly Inter Milan but it is not a big issue.'
Pochettino also insists he has no concerns about the form of Harry Kane, who has made a sluggish start to the season after his World Cup exertions.
The coach added: 'We have confidence and trust in him. There is no doubt he is one of the best in England and Europe. It is only a matter of time before he shows his real quality. I am not disappointed with him.
'The circumstances of the summer were different and it takes time for a player to get his best. As he is such a big player and everyone expects something from every action, so his expectations are different.'
KindDrew
1
True tbh hes vety lucky to escape it..I mean this guy us a professional and knows the consequences and what's involved when you commit crimes like this. maybe the world cup helped him on that but he should be very careful next time it might affect his record which is the most important of them all
Gunnersincebirth
0
Drink driving is a serious offence and he should be punished. Kids from around the world look up to these people as heros and this is the best he can do. I don't know why some footballers continue to bring shame to the name of football.
Gunnersincebirth
0
Drink driving is a serious offence I don't know why some footballers continue to bring shame to the name of football.
Mboy_Swag04
0
That’s crazy that he could be so drunk but only twice over the limit. A single pint is theoretically enough to put you over the limit, so does that mean he had no tolerance for alcohol or that what?
Guess Lloris is a regular drinker. 🤷🏾♂️. Explains the World Cup final.
Halereal
0
He's still a much better keeper than Areola, and as captain who just won the WC and still has a few good years to give and no signs of decline, it will take much more for him to lose his spot.
He has lots of experience but he needs to behave like a cap
LiveFootball
0
That’s crazy that he could be so drunk but only twice over the limit. A single pint is theoretically enough to put you over the limit, so does that mean he had no tolerance for alcohol or that what?
Hope he is not drunk during any game
Cooperer
0
That’s crazy that he could be so drunk but only twice over the limit. A single pint is theoretically enough to put you over the limit, so does that mean he had no tolerance for alcohol or that what?
Dealwis
0
It's a personal thing tbf alcohol affects people in different ways, and I'm tee total so not really my area of expertise lol. But his own lawyer described him as getting "absolutely drunk" out at dinner so however much he consumed was too much for him.
oddments
0
Because hes a public figure really and that he plays for Tottenham, any reason to have big at us. Also no one seems to mind Chelsea are employing and paying a genuine killer, but someone is properly going to point out that he already got finned by a court so why does it matter.
siccdream
0
No one seems to mind? Literally every thread about him 80% of the comments are about it.
dream888
0
You're asking of the club to voluntarily give themselves a handicap in the sport for something that happened out of it, of course it's almost never going to happen if it's not forced by a neutral entity (could be the courts, with a "if you're a public figure then", or the FA for example).
Muhsina
0
Depends how public your job is though, if you're working with outsiders there's a good chance you'd get pulled from that and dumped somewhere else
badly
0
n terms of on-pitch performance, what would the handicap be? Spurs are a team with multiple well-organised and determined leaders, and in terms of communication with the ref, Lloris is often going to be the worst player to do that because of how restricted his position is.
Geeraffery
0
We know how many trophies you have won the last 10 years Oof
Gapjust
0
With Deschamps, if he still performs he won't be benched
Kathhy
0
Poch: Hugo, you've been a very good bad boy
overthing
0
He's still a much better keeper than Areola, and as captain who just won the WC and still has a few good years to give and no signs of decline, it will take much more for him to lose his spot.
Ellenmed
0
Not sure why the club are fining him or people think he should not be captain anymore. If I get caught drink driving my boss isn't going to fine me and demote me that's what the court is for. Depends how public your job is though, if you're working with outsiders there's a good chance you'd get pulled from that and dumped somewhere else
lakerhala
1
He's the right man to DRIVE Spurs forward, as long as he doesn't drink.
yubamntyz
0
he escaped heavy punishment because he is a high profile footballer. imagine what will be our punishment if ordinary people like us were caught
happykk
0
he is a disgrace pathetic creature the fact that he keeps the captaincy says a lot about the club,a man who respect himself would offer it to other better human being.
Elsa98
1
Indeed, lloris was so lucky.
montestiokah
0
Exactly