Tottenham star Hugo Lloris hails Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane for 'inspiring a generation' during career

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Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris has paid tribute to Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane for inspiring a generation of footballers in France.

Lloris was 11 years old when Zizou's brilliance led the nation to World Cup success in 1998 and the European title two years later.

Nearly two decades on and he is in goal for Spurs as they plot an upset against Zidane's Real Madrid who are targeting a hat-trick of Champions League titles.

Hugo Lloris trains on the Santiago Bernabeu pitch ahead of Tottenham's match in Madrid

The Tottenham goalkeeper has lauded Zinedine Zidane for inspiring a generation

Lloris has hailed the achievements of Zidane following his transition from player to manager 

Lloris said: 'He is a legend in France and an inspiration for most of the players of my generation. He won everything.

'He has great personality and was a legend as a player and I am not surprised about his success, even if I know football is even harder as a manager because of the pressure.

'What he has achieved for Real Madrid is fantastic. Seven titles means a lot. And the way he has managed so many of the best players.'

After a glittering career as a player for Bordeaux, Juventus and Real Madrid, Zidane was appointed manager of Real in January 2016 after the sacking of Rafa Benitez.

He has gone on to win the Champions League twice - making them the first in the modern era to defend the title - La Liga, the Club World Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and the Spanish Super Cup twice.

Spearheading the team has been Cristiano Ronaldo, another of the football's living legends.

'Like Zidane, he is an inspiration for the new generation,' said Lloris. 'He is a machine of success with individual trophies and collective success.

'He is a great leader and a great personality, too. He has made a great impact on Real Madrid and the success of Real Madrid.

'The expectation at a club like Real Madrid is impossible to compare with any other club, even an ambitious club like Tottenham.

'It is the biggest club in the world with a lot of pressure.'

Lloris knows how it feels to emerge triumphant from the Bernabeu.

His saves helped Lyon to victory in a last-16 tie against Real Madrid in 2010 and he insists Tottenham will set out to win.

'We're looking forward to it,' said Lloris. 'It's a big opportunity for all of us to face probably the best club in Europe in the last few years, one of the biggest clubs in the world, and face the best players.

'The target is to be competitive and enjoy our football, to make a great team performance and to show the face of Tottenham - to play with our concepts, to keep possession, to be aggressive and try to be dominant.

'We have nothing to lose and all to win and we will play with this spirit. We have to believe in ourselves, in our football. It is a collective sport and it is possible to make great achievements.' 

Real Madrid and Tottenham go into Tuesday night's match level on points in Group H

Lloris has also been waxing lyrical on Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Tuesday night's encounter