Daily Mail

The Football Association are set to hit Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur with a lengthy ban for making an alleged racist remark about South Koreans while on Uruguayan TV.

Multiple sources have told Mail Sport the midfielder is likely to receive a seven match ban - but that figure is unconfirmed.

Nevertheless, Bentancur is set to miss a lengthy period for Ange Postecoglou’s side in what will arrive as a major blow to Spurs.

Appearing on the show in his homeland in June, Bentancur was asked for a Tottenham player’s jersey and replied, ‘Sonny’s?’ - referencing his team-mate Son Heung-min.

He then added it could be Son’s cousin, too, because ‘more or less they are all the same.’

The FA confirmed earlier this year that they charged the South American for an ‘aggravated breach’ of their rules.

And the FA are now close to confirming Bentancur’s punishment.

Bentancur has played an important role for Postecoglou this campaign, featuring in 10 of Tottenham's 11 Premier League games so far, starting seven.

The only league match the Uruguayan has missed this season was Spurs' home clash with Everton on the second weekend, when Postecoglou's side triumphed 4-0.

Son, Tottenham's captain, revealed that team-mate Bentancur was close to tears when he apologised over the alleged racial slur.

'At the moment because of the FA process I can't say much about it,' said Son in September. 'But I love Rodrigo, I love him. We've a lot of good memories since we started playing together when he joined.

'He knew and he apologised straight afterwards. We were on holiday. I was at home. I didn't even realise what was going on when he sent me a long message and you could feel it was coming from his heart.

'When we came back for pre-season he felt really sorry, and almost cried when he apologised publicly and personally as well. He felt like he was really sorry. We are all human and all make mistakes and we learn from it.'

'I love Rodrigo. I love him, I love him,' the South Korean added.

'He knows he made a mistake but I've no problem at all with him. We move on as a team-mate and friend and as a brother. We move on together.

'We have to wait for what the FA says in their process. I can't say much but what I can say is I love Rodrigo, there's nothing more to say.'

More to follow.

Paul Merson has hit back at a Tottenham fan who called him a 'gambling wife beating alcoholic coke head' on social media.

Merson was on punditry duty during Sky Sports' Super Sunday showings over the weekend, which featured Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle and Chelsea against Arsenal.

Also on the day, though not televised in England, Tottenham took on Ipswich in north London and fell to a shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of the newly-promoted side.

Merson, who is a renowned Chelsea fan and used to play for Arsenal a two of Spurs' rivals - took to social media to brand the result 'Spursy', a word often used to mock the club.

One fan didn't see the funny side of things, mocking the 56-year-old, though Merson hit back himself.

The fan took to social media to bash Merson, posting: 'Spursy maybe but let's not forget you are a gambling wife beating alcoholic coke head. Rather be spursy than you.'

Merson then responded with a gif of Little Littler celebrating a big fish in darts with a fishing motion - suggesting he had got the response he wanted.

Merson, who was also on this year's series of Strictly Come Dancing, often takes to social media to share his football opinions as he does on Sky.

He sometimes comes under criticism for his past, but doesn't hide away and often bites back at fans.

On Sunday, he responded to one troll with: 'When your team lose so you go onto social media to abuse people. classic!'

Another replied: 'Jog on addict', to which Merson responded: 'Already had that one mate,' accompanied by a thumbs up emoji.

Merson has had a number of issues with gambling and alcohol throughout his life, including being involved in a car crash with a lorry on the M40 and being arrested for drink-driving in 2011.

He has opened up on his struggles with gambling and his drink and drug habits on more than once occasion, and admits he still struggles to this day.

In 1994, he admitted to having addictions to alcohol, cocaine and gambling and the FA arranged a three-month rehabilitation programme.

In 2004, meanwhile, he admitted himself to the Sierra Tucson Clinic in Arizona for help with his gambling issue under advice and financial backing from the PFA.

In 2007, it was reported that Merson was arrested and cautioned for an assault on his wife.

He is now a regular on Sky Sports, appearing on their weekly 'Soccer Saturday' show and often as a pundit during broadcasts of live matches.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou appeared to take issue with a Tottenham fan following his side's shock 2-1 defeat by Ipswich.

Spurs' inconsistent season continued on Sunday as they lost for the fifth time in 11 games this campaign, with Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap ensuring Ipswich won their first game since their return to the Premier League.

It was a result that didn't go down well with those in north London, with boos heard at full-time and fans making their feelings on the loss known.

That included near the players' tunnel, with fans gathering towards the side of the exit as players and coaching staff, including Postecoglou, left the field.

The Australian did his best to ignore some of the reactions heading his way, but was seen stopping in his tracks just before he left the field of play, seemingly taking issue with something that was said in his direction.

In a video shared on social media, the Australian could be seen deep in thought as he walked off the field following the full time whistle.

He was followed by some of the Tottenham players, including the likes of Djed Spence, and members of his coaching staff, such as Ryan Mason.

The 59-year-old wasn't fazed by anything that may have been said on his walk, until he got close to leaving the pitch, where he stopped in his tracks.

He could be seen then looking up to the fans for a short period of time, with other members of his coaching staff joining him and also stopping their walks back to the changing room. That lasted for just a few seconds, before he looked back down again and continued to head to the back.

He wasn't in the best of moods speaking to the media after the game, either, criticising Ipswich's apparent time-wasting in the match.

'I think it's the way the Premier League is going,' he said. 'It's pretty strategic now. It's funny - I always liked the Premier League because it wasn't like that.

'You'd watch teams play in Europe and get frustrated by it, but now it's part of the game here as well. There's nothing we can do about it.

'For us, if we want to mitigate those things - because we don't do it and we want the game to be played - then we shouldn't give opportunities for the opposition to do that.'

The result means Tottenham are 10th in the Premier League after 11 games of the new season, with five wins, one draw and five defeats to their names.

They are still only three point off a top four spot, but some fans have grown frustrated by inconsistent results and defensive struggles.

Both Crystal Palace and Ipswich have been near the bottom of the league when beating Tottenham for their first wins of the season, while a dominant 4-1 win over Aston Villa also occurred last week.

After the international break, Postecoglou's side will take on champions Manchester City away from home.

Ange Postecoglou expressed his fury at Ipswich for time-wasting and insisted that Tottenham would never do it.

'I think it's the way the Premier League is going,' he said. 'It's pretty strategic now. It's funny - I always liked the Premier League because it wasn't like that.

'You'd watch teams play in Europe and get frustrated by it, but now it's part of the game here as well. There's nothing we can do about it.

'For us, if we want to mitigate those things - because we don't do it and we want the game to be played - then we shouldn't give opportunities for the opposition to do that.'

Postecoglou admitted Tottenham 'didn't start the game well at all' and gave themselves 'a mountain to climb' when they went two goals behind in the first half.

'We were very passive. We didn't get the tempo or intensity right,' Postecoglou said.

'That's down to me. That's my responsibility. The inconsistency we're having this year - ultimately it comes down to me and my approach and it's something I need to try and fix.

Meanwhile, Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna defended his side's approach and called it 'a day to cherish' as the Tractor Boys secured their first Premier League win since 2002.

'Managing a game when you come to a place like this and to get a result given the context, we have to find ways to control the intensity of the game and we did that really well,' said McKenna.

'It's a massive win. I'm not going to shy away from that. It's a really significant moment - a day to cherish in the recent history of the football club.

'For the supporters to see their club win in the Premier League at a club like Tottenham, at a fantastic stadium, it's a massive day for them.

'From where the club was two years ago to now be competing in the Premier League is a big step. It's a really significant landmark in the journey.'

Before Sunday, Ipswich had not won a Premier League match since April 2002

Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap scored at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

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This sweet taste of Premier League victory has been a long time coming for Ipswich. More than 22 years they have waited. And of all the places they might have expected it to arrive they would not have dared to dream it would be Tottenham.

It was the club where Kieran McKenna served in the youth ranks and where his coaching journey began after injury curtailed his playing career.

And at home, Ange Postecoglou’s team have been strong, winning seven of their eight previous home games this season. Their only blemish came in the North London Derby against Arsenal but this defeat will hurt almost as much.

Spurs were booed as the away end erupted at the final whistle. McKenna’s team survived a tense and nervous eight minutes of stoppage time as they protected a slender lead.

They were 2-0 up at half-time thanks to goals by Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap and defended heroically to get over the line and players in Suffolk pink collapsed exhausted to the turf at the end having secured their first Premier League win since April 2002, against Middlesbrough, when Darren Bent was on the scoresheet.

Ipswich deserved their lead when it came via Szmodics, his third goal since the move south from Blackburn and another for the collection of awful goals Spurs are quite capable of conceding.

Delap challenged Cristian Romero in the air for a cross delivered from the right by Jens Cajuste and helped it on although not with a glancing flick. In fact, the ball looped into the air off the shoulders of the Ipswich centre forward.

Szmodics, alive to the situation, adjusted his position, with back to goal and lined up an inventive finish, hooking the dropping ball back over his own head as he fell and saw it skid into the corner. Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson stood and watched.

Spurs have conceded in 13 of their 15 Premier League home games in 2024. It is thrilling to watch them but they are so soft at the back, especially with Micky van de Ven’s pace on recovery.

McKenna had tweaked his team for his return to the club where he started his coaching journey, with full-back Ben Johnson deployed wide on the right with a nod towards the extra protection his team would require against Tottenham’s relentlessness in attack but they started positively.

Szmodics forced a save from Guglielmo Vicario within seconds. Again, he was quickest to react to a deflected cross. Dara O’Shea went close from the corner which followed, and his central defensive partner Cameron Burgess headed another corner against the bar.

Spurs winger Johnson, son of Ipswich legend David Johnson, went close at the other end when he darted in from the right to reach a teasing cross from Heung-min Son, only to see it fall narrowly wide. All this within the first 10 minutes.

Ari Muric saved from Son and Domnic Solanke as Spurs found a better rhythm and also reacted well to keep out a cross deflected towards his own goal by Leif Davis.

Ipswich stretched their lead just before half time, this time a wonderful sweeping counterattack which Rodrigo Bentancur ought to have killed in midfield. Bentancur allowed Omari Hutchinson to wriggle away from him and release Davis down the left.

Davis found Szmodics and his low cross was pushed by Spurs keeper Vicario onto his teammate Radu Dragusin and the ricochet left Delap with the simple task of crashing a shot into an open net from a matter of centimetres.

Tottenham returned for the second half with renewed purpose, kicking towards the South Stand. They have summoned fightbacks before.

Muric made a fine save to turn a curling Son shot wide and Solanke had the ball in the net only to find it ruled out by a VAR intervention. It came from a corner, won in the air by Bentancur and swept towards goal on the half volley by Solanke.

Ipswich players appealed immediately but only the replays made clear how the shot had taken an inadvertent deflection off Solanke’s left hand.

Referee Darren England was in charge at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first time since his VAR blunder saw a Luis Diaz goal for Liverpool disallowed for offside despite being onside, in October last year.

There was more VAR tension for England as he waited for John Brooks to rule on a Spurs appeal for a penalty. Pedro Porro’s cross struck Davis on a hand but no penalty was given.

Rodrigo Bentancur pulled one back, a terrific header at the near post to convert a corner whipped in by Porro.

The home crowd sensed a comeback and Postecoglou’s team poured forward, committed to three up front with two number 10s in behind and the full-backs pushed as high as the wingers.

Defensively, they had the centre-halves and a sitting midfielder.

Ipswich did what they could to threaten on the break but were more concerned with disrupting the game.

Postecoglou shook his head as George Hirst demanded treatment almost as soon as he came on to replace Delap, while the rest of the visiting team decamped to the side of the pitch for an impromptu timeout with McKenna.

Werner skied a chance and Muric saved from Solanke from a tight angle but there was no way back this time.

MATCH FACTS & PLAYER RATINGS

Spurs (4-3-3): Vicario 6; Porro 5, Romero 5.5, Dragusin 6, Udogie 5; Kulusevski 6, Bentancur 6.5 (Bissouma 84), Sarr 6 (Werner 66, 5); Johnson 6 (Maddison 84), Solanke 6.5, Son 5

Subs not used: Forster, Gray, Bergvall, Spence, Davies, Lankshear

Goals: Bentancur 69

Bookings: Bentancur

Manager: Ange Postecoglou 6

Ipswich (4-2-3-1): Muric 7; Tuanzebe 6.5, O’Shea 7.5, Burgess 7.5, Davis 7; Morsy 7, Cajuste 7 (Luongo 90+2); Johnson 6.5, Hutchinson 8, Szmodics 7.5 (J Clarke 70, 6); Delap 7 (Hirst 70, 6)

Subs not used: Walton, H Clarke, Woolfenden, Burns, Chaplin, Townsend

Goals: Szmodics 31, Delap 43

Bookings: Tuanzebe, Delap, Johnson, Davis, Hutchinson

Manager: Kieran McKenna 7.5

Referee: Darren England 6.5

Attendance: 61,505

Follow Mail Sport's live blog for the latest scores, team news and updates from Sunday's 2pm kick-offs including Manchester United vs Leicester at Old Trafford.

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This chaotic defeat will not stop Tottenham progressing in the Europa League, but there’s every chance it will linger. The ringing in the ears of Ange Postecoglou and his players when they wake in London will see to that.

Remind them it was not just some sort of fever dream. For the first hour, Spurs were mauled by Galatasaray. Sliced open with astonishing regularity, their goal peppered with 27 efforts by the Turks, who scored three before half-time.

Victor Osimhen gave a lesson in the art of centre forward play and only Fraser Forster’s heroics kept humiliation at bay before, having been reduced to 10 men on the hour, they summoned some sort of fightback as Galatasaray ran out of energy and ended up hanging on.

The boisterous home crowd, having generated an ear-splitting din for most of the night ended up whistling for referee Lawrence Visser to bring it to an end.

It was breathless, brilliant and bonkers. And Will Lankshear will certainly not forget his second start for the club. The teenage striker scored his first goal and was sent off for collecting two yellow cards in seven second-half minutes.

Galatasaray set off at 100 miles per hour and scored early. A spectacular goal it was, too, scored by Yunus Akgun, who spent last season on loan at Leicester in the Championship.

Gabriel Sara angled a free kick into Spurs penalty box, and it was headed out towards Akgun who adjusted his feet quickly as it bounced his way and smashed it back, beyond the dive of Fraser Forster.

The volume went up and off the scale, which must have been something of an experience for this Spurs team, depleted and featuring three teenagers, including 19-year-old centre forward Lankshear who was making only his second start.

Lankshear turned his back on Akgun’s opener although any criticism washed away when he equalised from close range after Brennan Johnson nursed a pass from Archie Gray square across goal. It was a simple enough finish but a special moment for a young striker who started in Arsenal’s academy and crossed North London via Sheffield United.

Most of Tottenham’s problems, however, were at the back where Pedro Porro was the only one of the first-choice defensive unit to start, with central defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven out injured and Destiny Udogie and Guglielmo Vicario starting on the bench.

They looked fragile in the face of Galatasaray’s potent spearhead, easily unzipped and frequently caught in possession by the energy and intensity of the Turkish champions, roared on by a febrile home crowd.

Radu Dragusin was culpable more often than most and missed a chance to halt the move leading to Galatasaray’s second, which was clinically converted by Osimhen, stabbed low past Forster with his toe-end having eased clear of Ben Davies into space.

His second was another exquisite piece of finishing. This time a volley guided just inside a post while leaping to reach a teasing cross clipped in from the right by Dries Mertens. He was electric, with pace and movement to create space and lethal in front of goal.

During this purple patch at the end of the first half, Osimhen also had a goal ruled out for offside and was twice denied by fine saves from Forster. Galatasaray led 3-1 at the interval and went off to a standing ovation but they might easily have had five or six.

Spurs hardly made it out of their own half. Postecoglou sent on Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur to replace wingers Johnson and Heung-min Son with James Maddison pushed out to the left wing as the Spurs boss searched for control but there was no respite.

Forster fumbled a cross early in the second half and another Agkun volley deflected wide. Osimhen headed a good chance wide and was then frustrated again by the Tottenham keeper who blocked another with his feet.

Then, on the hour, Lankshear was sent off for a second yellow card and somehow Spurs pulled one back, substitute Solanke getting ahead of his marker to turn a low Pedro Porro cross over the line with a neat flicked finished behind his standing leg.

Mauro Icardi had a goal ruled out offside but Postecoglou threw on more senior players and his 10 men finished the game on top.

Re-live Mail Sport's live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Tottenham took on Galatasaray in Europa League action.

Crystal Palace are verifying the origins of a hamstring injury suffered by Eddie Nketiah amid concerns he has fallen victim to the developing trend of Premier League footballers appointing expensive performance ‘specialists’ separate from their clubs.

Eagles medics are trying to establish full details of the muscular strain suffered by their marquee £30million summer signing from Arsenal earlier this week, with suspicions the problem was sustained during a session away from Palace’s training schedule.

There is hope the injury isn’t serious and that Nketiah will be available to face Aston Villa immediately after the international break.

Nevertheless, Palace are deeply concerned that Nketiah may have suffered the issue away from their training ground in Beckenham, south London. Palace paid a huge fee for Nketiah, who earns in the region of £100,000 a week, to lure him from the Emirates in the summer window.

The fact Palace will be without him for Saturday’s clash against Fulham for an injury that, according to sources, was not caused on their watch has raised alarm. Indeed, Mail Sport understands Palace are already looking at implementing new internal structures to avoid players picking up injuries away from their supervision in the future, such is their unease.

Palace, however, aren’t the only side anxious about players seeking external expertise away from club control. Players now invest huge amounts in assembling their own teams of personal trainers, chefs, physios, psychologists and nutritionists in a bid to reach optimal condition.

‘It is not uncommon for players to pick up injuries when having their own personal training sessions away from the club,’ said a well-placed source from a top-half Premier League side. ‘We’ve accused players of being injured with their personal trainers, but proving it isn’t easy.

‘It’s coming from a good place, they just want to be the best they can be. But all their training and diet plans are meticulously tailored by the club.

‘For them to go away and do more work, as admirable as it might be, goes against the sports science.’

Among the clubs said to have similar issues are Chelsea and Arsenal. During the closing years of Harry Kane’s stay with Tottenham, there was significant apprehension about the England captain’s collaboration with Canadian-based sports medicine specialist Dr. Alejandro Elorriaga Claraco as the striker looked to cure his long-standing ankle issues.

Claraco never set foot in Tottenham’s HQ in Enfield despite his relationship with Kane. By all accounts he wouldn't have been welcome either amid concern from Spurs medical staff who were understandably worried about losing full control of their star player’s well-being.

Certain adjustments Claraco would recommend to Kane were not well-received by Spurs staff. Yet there is very little clubs can do to control players’ post-training activities.

With increasing numbers of players making significant financial investments in such external appointments in search of physical improvements, it's a matter clubs will be faced with far more frequently.

‘The best investment you can make, even if you are not earning crazy money - instead of taking private planes, great cars, spend the money on chefs at home, mental coaching, preparation,’ Cesc Fabregas told the BBC earlier this year.

‘If you are not happy with the level of the fitness coach, always get a little bit extra. Spend money on these things that can get value for your future.’

Sound advice. Not if you’re suffering injuries as a result, however.

‘It is crazy that some players would push it so hard with their personal trainers that they’d risk injury,’ said a source at another Premier League side.

‘They have got their “experts” and ultimately we can’t stop them but we are the ones to pick up the pieces if it goes wrong.’

Crunch time for Lopetegui

West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui is under mounting pressure to arrest his team’s worrying slide, though the lack of a clear replacement and the cost of compensation could buy the Spaniard time.

The Hammers boss has endured a difficult start to his reign at the London Stadium, his side winning just three of their 10 Premier League matches since his appointment as David Moyes’ successor.

Defeat by fellow strugglers Everton this weekend would only serve to intensify the internal scrutiny on Lopetegui from within the club, with certain figures concerned not only by the results but the manner of the performances.

Owner David Sullivan has traditionally shown a reluctance to sack his managers, with skeptics believing his hesitation to pull the trigger stems from an unwillingness to fork out millions in compensation.

There are also reservations about who could step into Lopetegui’s shoes and make immediate improvements should the club decide to dispense with their head coach.

Edin Terzic, who led Borussia Dortmund to the the final of the Champions League last season, has support and would be open to taking the job.

Crucially, Terzic is available having left Dortmund in the summer meaning West Ham would not be required to pay another compensation package to release the German/Croatian from a club. Graham Potter may also be a candidate.

United consider reigniting Branthwaite interest

Manchester United are among the clubs monitoring Jarrad Branthwaite’s position in Everton head coach Sean Dyche’s plans ahead of the January window.

The £70million-rated centre-back, who missed the start of the season through injury, is available but has been left on the bench by Dyche for the team’s previous two games.

And the situation has alerted United and other Premier League sides ahead of the January market.

United tried to sign Branthwaite in the summer but refused to meet Everton’s valuation. However, INEOS may be willing to revisit their interest at the turn of the year - particularly if his first-team opportunities don’t improve - though the club’s PSR position could prove a stumbling block.

Dyche would not want to lose Branthwaite mid-season, but the money from any sale could be used to strengthen his squad ahead of what looks to be another fight against relegation.

It is understood Everton can’t afford to offer Branthwaite a new contract as things stand, and with his deal expiring in 2027, there maybe a temptation to sell sooner rather than later.

With John Stones and Harry Maguire both currently injured, the 22-year-old may have been a contender for the next England squad which is named today, but it is unlikely he will be selected given his lack of action so far this season.

Sesko's Arsenal concerns

Red Bull Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko was reluctant to join Arsenal last summer amid concerns he would be second-choice to Kai Havertz.

Sesko emerged as a key target for the Gunners during the previous transfer window but the 21-year-old stayed in the Bundesliga, signing a new contract with Leipzig.

Arsenal retain an interest in the Slovenia international, who has scored seven goals for his club so far this season.

However, Sesko, it is understood, gave serious consideration towards joining in the summer but held reservations over whether he would be a regular in the starting XI with the Gunners making clear he would not be guaranteed to play ahead of Havertz, who finished last season strongly as a central striker.

Arsenal were minded to pay his release clause before Sesko’s initial hesitation became apparent.

Sesko currently has a buy-out clause of £55million, with the Gunners monitoring his progress closely ahead of the next two transfer windows.

Paratici still watching Spurs despite ban

Fabio Paratici continues to attend matches at Tottenham Hotspur this season.

The former Spurs managing director of football resigned from his £1.2million-a-year role in April last year after being hit with a 30-month ban for his role in alleged false accounting at his previous club Juventus.

The 52-year-old has been less visible at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium than he usually is, but it is understood that he has attended matches in north London at regular junctures this season.

He is believed to have attended matches as a guest of box holders rather than through the club, and reportedly continues to be a consultant for Spurs.

Begiristain not easing down at City

Outgoing Manchester City sporting director Txiki Begiristain is not taking a back seat as he prepares to leave the Etihad.

The Spaniard - a key figure in driving City’s domestic and European dominance - will leave at the end of the season, when he will be replaced by Sporting’s Hugo Viana.

Begiristain is expected to work up until the climax of City’s involvement in next summer’s inaugural Club World Cup before leaving.

The 60-year-old, however, is not winding down as he continues to play a lead role in the club’s plans for the January and summer windows.

He remains as a key point of contact for agents and rival sporting directors and continues to have full involvement in executing the deals the club are looking to complete.

Begiristain will be inundated with work offers, initially on a consultancy basis, when he finally leaves City next year.

Palace deal edging nearer

Sportsbank, the group who have made an offer of around £230million for Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor’s 45 per cent stake, hope to tie up the deal by the end of next week.

Mail Sport exclusively revealed last Thursday that the investment vehicle - led by south London businessmen Zechariah Janjua and Navshir Jaffer - had tabled a bid for Textor’s shares.

And crucial discussions are scheduled to take place over the next few days aimed at wrapping up the transaction.

It is understood the fact Sportsbank is made up of individuals who support Palace is positive for Textor, as he heads into final discussions about selling his shares in the Eagles, with the American businessman keen to sell to a party with the club’s best interests at heart.

Full steam ahead towards football regulator

PFA chief executive Maheta Molango is set to appear in Westminster in January as the Government accelerates plans to introduce a football regulator.

Part of the discussion forum that Molango is due to attend will centre around the legal reach of the regulator.

Former Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris has launched a scathing attack on club chairman Daniel Levy in his new autobiography.

The French goalkeeper spent 11-and-a-half years with Spurs - eight of those with the captain's armband - before eventually leaving to join MLS side LAFC in January 2024.

Though he found success with his national side during his career, such as winning the World Cup in 2018, Lloris failed to clinch a trophy during his time in north London.

Two Carabao Cup final defeats and a loss in the Champions League final to Liverpool still haunt the Frenchman, which he reflected upon openly in his new book.

When talking of the clash against the Reds in 2018-19, Lloris discussed an incident that occurred four days before the final that he still hasn't 'got over'.

In his new book, Hugo Lloris: Earning my Spurs, he explained: 'Four days before the final, Daniel Levy called us all together to announce that, with the support of a sponsor, we would each receive a luxury aviator watch from the club.

'At first, we were excited to see the elegant boxes. Then we opened them and discovered that he’d had the back of each timepiece engraved with the player’s name and "Champions League Finalist 2019". "Finalist".

'Who does such a thing at a moment like this? I still haven’t got over it, and I’m not alone. If we’d won, he wouldn’t have asked for the watches back to have "Winner" engraved instead.

'I have considerable respect and esteem for the man and all he has done for the club as chairman – I got to know him – but there are things he is simply not sensitive to.

'As magnificent as the watch is, I have never worn it. I would have preferred there to be nothing on it. With an engraving like that, Levy couldn’t have been surprised if we had been 1–0 down after a couple of minutes: so it was written'.

Back in 2018, Tottenham announced IWC Schaffhausen as their 'Official Timing Partner' - which is likely the reason they were gifted the luxury watches.

When former players Jan Vertonghen and Michel Vorm left the club back in 2020, they were also gifted luxury watches from the same brand.

Ultimately, Spurs fell short in their pursuit of the Champions League title after a 2-0 defeat by Premier League rivals Liverpool.

They went 1-0 down inside 30 seconds after Moussa Sissoko was judged to have handled the ball inside the box and spent the remainder of the match knocking on the door of a resolute Liverpool defence.

Eventually, super-sub Divock Origi confirmed the defeat with a late strike that Lloris was unable to stop.

That final seemingly derailed Mauricio Pochettino's project at Tottenham and in the years that followed, Spurs failed to emulate the same success that they had in the early years under the Argentine.

It's a matter that Lloris also discussed in his autobiography and the Frenchman suggested that the Amazon documentary series - titled 'All or Nothing' - played a big factor in their downfall.

'Tensions that would only grow following a decision by the club which would affect the team’s day-to-day lives; a decision made without the consent of either the squad or the manager: to install cameras everywhere for Amazon’s series about Spurs.

'In light of the sum mentioned – around ten million pounds – we wondered whether those whose season and activities would be affected, all those being asked to mic-up each day, would get a cut. The answer wasn’t slow in coming: no.

'So when the film crew placed little microphones on some of the canteen tables, we went and sat at other ones. We had to be careful all the time. The only place where we could speak freely was the training dressing room – we’d got them to agree that it would remain out of bounds.

'Otherwise, they had mics and cameras everywhere – even at some practice sessions, which was no small matter: it was a constraint and it had consequences'.

Fan favourite Pochettino was sacked in the early stages of that season and was swiftly replaced my Jose Mourinho - who also struggled to get the best out of Tottenham's stars.

Lloris remained an integral member of the Spurs side in the years that followed, up until Ange Postecoglou's arrival in 2023, where he quickly fell out of favour.

After failing to make a single appearance in the first half of the campaign under the Australian, he eventually joined MLS side LAFC in the January window at the start of this year.