Spurs boss reveals his goalkeeping selection for Lyon tie

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Brad Friedel. Photo: Stephen Pond/EMPICS Sport

By Ben Pearce, Tottenham correspondent Wednesday, February 13, 2013
3:03 PM

Andre Villas-Boas will deny Hugo Lloris the chance to face his former club tomorrow night by rotating his goalkeepers and handing Brad Friedel the No1 jersey against Lyon.

Lloris had to play second fiddle to Friedel when he arrived at the end of August, but the France captain started five of Spurs’ six Europa League group matches in the first half of the season.

Lloris went on to claim the No1 jersey, with Friedel getting his chance in the last group game against Panathinaikos in December – and Villas-Boas intends to continue with the same policy at White Hart Lane tomorrow.

“Will Hugo start? No, you’ve seen us do exactly the opposite in the Europa League in the past - particularly with Hugo when Brad was playing - and most likely Brad is going to be in goal,” said Spurs’ head coach.

“It’s a decision we have already taken. Obviously we know that this tie represents a lot to Hugo on a personal level because it is against his old club, but I think out of respect for Brad, and the confidence we have in him and what he’s been doing, we will continue to apply exactly the same principle as we applied in the past and rotate the goalkeeper.”

Meanwhile, Villas-Boas has revealed that Jermain Defoe could be available for the second leg against Lyon next Thursday as he recovers from his ankle injury.

“I think Defoe will be one more week before he comes back,” he said. “It’s looking good at the moment.

He’s fine, we had good results from the scan and he’s making a good recovery. If he makes it within a week it will be great work from him again to get back. The rest of the team is absolutely fine.”

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