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Rob Guest

Hugo Lloris opens up on the atmosphere at Tottenham, life under Jose Mourinho and elbow injury

Hugo Lloris has quashed talk over supposed unrest in the squad due to Jose Mourinho's tactics and training sessions at Hotspur Way.

The Sun reported that senior players at the club believe the team has gone backwards under the new boss since his appointment in November and that his long-ball tactics are restricting them.

Despite initially starting off well under the 56-year-old as they registered four wins from their first five games, results have tailed off recently and Wednesday night's 2-1 victory over Norwich was their first in the league since Boxing Day.

The late win now means that the team are six points behind Chelsea in the battle for a top-four place and they could well catch them up very soon given the Blues have Leicester City and Manchester United to come.

Rob Guest on Spurs' win over Norwich

A strong team spirit is going to be needed if the team are to topple their London rivals and the World Cup winner has claimed that the atmosphere is "great" at Hotspur Way at present.

"I can tell you that it's completely wrong," said the 33-year-old when asked about the reports over the atmosphere. "The atmosphere is great, we can feel all the players involved and ready to fight for the club, the new manager and his staff.

"We cannot control everything you say outside but I can confirm the atmosphere is very positive. We're focused on our days and every competition we're involved in."

Lloris' appearance against Norwich was the first time he had played under Mourinho having last featured for the Lilywhites in the 3-0 drubbing at Brighton at the start of October.

Having had limited time to work with him on the training pitch after battling back to fitness from the dislocated elbow he sustained on the south coast, the ex-Lyon ace has said that it is inspiring to work under the experienced boss given what he's achieved in the game.

"Yeah, at the same time we know it's not easy to come in the middle of the season," he added. "Like all my teammates, I have such a deep respect for what Mauricio Pochettino has done for the club and his staff.

"He's one of the best managers in the world and we wish him all the best. He's a fantastic man and hopefully we'll see him soon in a new club.

"It's a great opportunity to work under Jose Mourinho, he's one of the best and most successful managers of the last 20 years and as a player it's a great opportunity to work under him but as I used to say it all depends on the players.

"The energy is from the players, the focus, the concentration, the performance. He's here to help us but at the same time we need to give everything for him."

The injury the player suffered at the Amex back in October left him on the sidelines for just over three months.

Not used to that long away from the team in the past, Lloris, who admitted that he was concerned the injury was more serious than it was, used the time away to refresh his mind.

"Of course when I got injured but now it's behind me and I had a good feeling in the last few weeks and I think we built the confidence back and my comeback," said the French international.

"It wasn't an easy period, like for all injured players but I took it in a positive way.

"It was a new experience for me, I'm not used to being injured for that time, and I tried to get the benefit of this period off the pitch to refresh my mind.

"As a professional, you always try to improve as a man and as a footballer and this is my mentality.

"I know the most difficult time is ahead of me as always, I always look forward."

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