Tottenham Hotspur captain Hugo Lloris has revealed how manager Mauricio Pochettino has helped transform him into one of the best ball-playing goalkeepers in the world.
The 30-year-old is renowned for his passing ability with both feet, while often being used as an 11th outfield player for the Lilywhites.
France international Lloris says that he is more than happy to carry the responsibility of building attacks from the very back, having had it instilled into him by Pochettino and goalkeeping coach Toni Jimenez over the past three-and-a-half years.
Asked by Spanish outlet AS whether he dislikes partaking in regular 'El Rondo' training drills, when tasked with passing the ball in a circle without it being intercepted, he said: "No, because now with Toni Jimenez I feel like the 11th [outfield] player. Maybe when I was 10, it was different, but now the keeper has to restart play.
"In teams managed by Pochettino, the keeper has to play out from the back. In the rondos I try to avoid the middle but I like this kind of exercise because it helps me to work with my feet and it's fun too.
"I am worried with playing it long or short, but always keeping possession because I don't want to lose the ball. When I first met Toni and Mauricio, I started spending more time in the gym and looking after my body, developing more muscle and improving my technique.
"I spend a lot of time with him and with Toni looking at videos and they showed me what they expected from me. The first few weeks, you wonder if what they are trying to do will work but after you start to notice at training and later in the game and then you think, 'Okay, maybe they're right'."
Lloris, who joined Spurs from Lyon in 2012, is expected to start Wednesday night's Champions League tie against Real Madrid at Wembley Stadium.
Daniel Lewis
