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Lloris: Eight cup finals for Spurs

Hugo Lloris is confident Tottenham can reach the Champions League next season © PA Photos

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Hugo Lloris believes Tottenham need to reach the Champions League in order to develop as a club - and now face eight cup finals to achieve that target.

Spurs currently occupy one of the Champions League qualification spots as they lie fourth in the table, and goalkeeper Lloris insists they must do well in their remaining fixtures to ensure they will be playing in Europe's premier club competition next season.

"They are like eight finals. I think Tottenham have the quality today to challenge other teams but we need time because we don't have experience," the 26-year-old told the Daily Mail.

"In a few seasons we can close that deficit but we need time and we need to play high-level games in the Champions League. We have ambition to put this club in the top four every year. When you are a player you have to be at the highest level in every game and you have to instil a winning mentality.

"A good model is Manchester United. They prove every season they have the mentality of winners."

The French international, who arrived from Lyon in the summer of 2012, has taken time to establish himself as the No. 1 at White Hart Lane but is now the first-choice 'keeper ahead of veteran Brad Friedel.

Tottenham are four points ahead of bitter North London rivals Arsenal, but the Gunners have a game in hand and have been handed an opportunity to close the gap following Spurs' back-to-back defeats. Chelsea are a place and one point above Tottenham in third.

Last season in February Tottenham were ten points clear of Arsenal and a couple of spots ahead, but a dip in form allowed Arsenal to grab third. Spurs finished fourth but lost their place in the Champions League to Chelsea after they won the competition.

And Lloris has backed his team to bounce back from the recent losses and to win the battle in securing Champions League football for next season.

"Maybe the fight is between Chelsea and Arsenal and Tottenham. We can do it and I hope we will. I have big confidence because we have good character. We've proved it this season and now we have to show it on the pitch," he said.

"We did very well for 12 games and we lost against Liverpool and Fulham, but the most important thing is the reaction. I think the international break was a good thing for us, to help us find energy for the end of the season. We now have eight games which are like eight finals."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.