Under bright sunshine (around 23 degrees), Hugo Lloris paces the pitch at the end of the match with his three children, the youngest of whom on his shoulders.
The audience, won over, encouraged the black and gold from start to finish, to start the season with a victory, a perfect first.
Welcomed by a magnificent tifo of pirates (
“you can’t sink us”
), greeted loudly by his new supporters, Lloris set off to embark on the new chapter of his career with authority.
In the 3rd minute he saved LAFC with a save against a powerful shot from close range by Jordan Morris.
Aged 37, the French goalkeeper joined Los Angeles FC in early 2024, a franchise beaten in the final of the 2023 championship in November, after twelve years at Tottenham in the Premier League.
The former captain of the Blues, record holder for selections for the French team (145), hopes to find
“a breath of fresh air”
in MLS .
“I expected good things, but not as much,” Lloris appreciated. It was very open at certain moments of the game, we lost control of the match a little because we opened up, perhaps in Europe it is more tactically controlled. But it makes up for it with generosity, the athletic aspect. And today (Saturday) there was a superb atmosphere, which allowed us to keep the result. I came here without prejudice, respecting the championship.
While he had not played for ten months and an injury-related outing in the Premier League, the former Nice and Lyon player reassured about his condition.
In a pretty BMO Stadium, with a view of the Ventura Mountains, Lloris, unmistakable with his fluorescent yellow outfit and his number 1, made several stops and captured the balls with confidence.
“I'm not necessarily happy with my passing game, we had worked on certain things in training, there was a bit of misunderstanding during the match, but that's normal.
Physically I’m not 100% yet
,” he commented.
He saw his team open the scoring with a volley from Timothy Tillman (45th), then was able to appreciate the
“golazo”
of his Polish teammate Mateusz Bogusz (55th), who found the opposite corner after a hook to the entrance to the surface on the left side.
As fate is mischievous, Lloris dove on the wrong side and conceded a penalty taken by an Argentinian, Pedro de la Vega (73rd).
Enough to remind him of the not so distant World Cup final in December 2022 in Qatar, lost on penalties against Lionel Messi's Albiceleste.
The public did not hold it against their new doorman, who already seems adopted.
“We have high expectations, this is the case when a foreign player joins the team
,” commented for AFP Damian Reyes (41), a subscriber for three seasons.
“He impressed me, I hope he stays strong and consistent.”
“He is calm, does not feel the pressure
,” appreciated his trainer Steve Cherundolo.
“He provides real-time solutions to his teammates, he communicates, he has good passes.
He brings his knowledge, his experience, his quality.
It gives our back lines security, and even the whole team.
We’re going to build on that.”
“He played a clean match, with important saves. His ability to make the right decisions will make us much better
,” added the coach.