The captains' table - when Hugo met Ledley

Hugo Lloris signed a new deal on 21 January, and who was there to greet him? None other than legendary former captain and Club Ambassador, Ledley King...

Ledley perfectly described their time at Spurs as a 'sliding doors moment' as Ledley retired after playing 323 times for us at the end of the 2011/12 season, with Hugo arriving later that summer for the start of 2012/13.

Playing as well as ever, Hugo has now racked up 396 appearances for the Club - the pair combined are now on 719 - and one of them has been captain for the last 17 years, but for a gap of two years between Ledley's departure in 2012 and Hugo taking over the armband in 2014. Ledley first led the team in 2005.

It felt just right that Ledley, a first team player for 13 years, 1999-2012, should turn interviewer for this special get together after Hugo committed himself until 2024 - taking his time at Spurs to 12 years.

Here's what they had to say - take it away, Leds!

Ledley: “Congratulations on signing a new deal, it’s amazing news for everyone connected to the Club, how do you feel about it?

Hugo: “It’s a privilege to play football and to play for such a big club like Spurs, to extend my stay in London and at Spurs for the next two years, for me, for my family, I feel really happy. The relationship with the fans is important for me. In the last few months, I’ve felt their support even more than before. So, the decision was really easy to take for me.”

Ledley: “Firstly, you have to be a top player to stay so long! It’s a bit like a sliding door moment, because I finished in 2012, you joined the Club in 2012. I played for 13 years, you’re coming up to 10, and I think it’s great to have someone at the Club who brings that stability, who knows what the Club is about, for anyone who comes in, for young players coming through, to have someone like yourself.”

Hugo: “If you want to keep the Club at a certain level, with consistency at a high level, it’s not only about one man, it’s about a few men who help the team, help the Club, every year to keep this level. Obviously, in the next two years I will make sure we find another person for the next 10 years!”

Ledley: “It’s coming up to 10 years for you now, I wanted to ask you about your hopes, what do you want to achieve?”

Hugo: “I believe we are in a new process under Antonio Conte, he’s given us a foundation, a structure to the team. Then, it’s up to the players to show their quality. Step by step, we’ll then see improvement. My wish is to become even more competitive. Why not get back into the Champions League? This season, this is my personal target, to help the team and the Club to continue in that way.”

Ledley: “Let’s hope so. You’re 35 now, if you don’t mind me saying! Would you say you appreciate playing more now than you did as a younger kid?”

Hugo: “Yes, maybe, yes…”

Ledley: “Sometimes people will ask if you enjoy your football and it’s difficult if you are a player to say, ‘I enjoy it’ because you always have the emotions of the games…”

Hugo: “With experience, you have this different approach to the game. Probably, when I was younger, I was very emotional and focussed on the game, today, I’m more relaxed and, also, in my mind, it’s the last few years of my career and I really want to enjoy every moment. I want to feel the pain when I lose, I want to feel the pain when I draw, I want to feel the happiness when I win. That’s my motivation every day.”

Watch - when Hugo met Ledley...

Ledley: “For me, this season, you’ve been outstanding again, what drives you to keep going and keep improving?

Hugo: “It’s interesting, because when I started my career, I always had a reference, a target, to arrive at this age, 35-years-old. Then, it’s been a few months now where I listen to my body even more, listen to myself, and I really feel good. That’s the most important thing. If I decide to continue, it’s because I feel good in my mind and I feel good in my body, and I feel ready for the challenge for the next two years - ready to fight, ready to work. This is something that is in my mind every day, when I wake up in the morning, I go to the training ground with happiness, with the desire to work, with the desire to improve. I believe that there is no age for improvement. You can get a lot of things, it doesn’t matter what age you are. I used to be very demanding of myself, and I will continue in that way, and probably even more towards the players around me, because that’s the only way to improve together as a team and to reach a high level. The win is my motivation. As long as you give yourself all the chance to be competitive and to be ready to fight, you increase the chance to win, but it has to be from everyone.”

Ledley: “And you can live with the result if you know everyone is giving everything..."

Hugo: “Exactly, and specially in this league, the level is so high, it’s the most competitive league in the world. There are so many big games, so many big players that any detail can affect a result and affect a season, because at the end, every point can matter. That’s why, also, I decided to continue the story, because the Premier League provided me the best in terms of emotions, professionally. Now, it’s the beginning of a new process and hopefully, with the help of Antonio Conte and his staff, with his experience, with his energy, with his discipline, we’re going to make something important for the Club.”

Ledley: “We hope so.”