Hugo Lloris May Have Long Spell as Tottenham Hotspur Number 2 – Benoit Assou-Ekotto

Tuesday, 11th September, 2012

Tottenham Hotspur defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto believes summer signing Hugo Lloris may have to get used to life on the bench at White Hart Lane.

Lloris was snapped up by manager Andre Villas-Boas on transfer deadline day, completing what had been a long mooted move to White Hart Lane.

Arriving from being a key player at Lyon and also as France’s established number 1, it was widely expected the 25-year-old would settle into a similar role with Spurs, regardless of the fact that American goalkeeper Brad Friedel had hardly put a foot wrong.

But Villas-Boas was quick to reaffirm Friedel’s number 1 status and that has led to much debate within France about what the future holds for Lloris and whether this will affect his role with Les Bleus.

And Assou-Ekotto has warned that it could be quite a while until Lloris has the chance to impress, given Friedel’s consistent nature.

"It will not be easy for him because he has competition. Whether he is the France goalkeeper or not, he will have to fight to win his place", the defender told French radio station RMC.

"Since we have a goalkeeper who does not make mistakes, who is good and well known and recognised in Britain. To begin with, Lloris will be our number 2.

"If our goalkeeper makes no mistakes, there will be no reason for a change."