Friedel: Competition is healthy

Brad Friedel insists he has no problem with Hugo Lloris' arrival at Tottenham Hotspur and claims the rivalry between the two goalkeepers is a "friendly" and "healthy" one. Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas said he had completed one of the biggest coups of the summer when he swooped to sign Lloris from Lyon for an initial £8m fee on transfer deadline day. The France captain was expected to go straight in to the first XI, but Villas-Boas retained Friedel in goal for yesterday's win over Reading after the American put in an outstanding display in the previous fixture against Norwich City. Villas-Boas' public vow to keep Friedel as his No1 did not go down well with the Frenchman, or his national manager Didier Deschamps, but the Portuguese insists the 25-year-old must earn his right to win the No1 jersey. Friedel, who played his 308th consecutive Premier League game yesterday, has no qualms about the competition between himself, Lloris, and Spurs' other two goalkeepers Heurelho Gomes and Carlo Cudicini. "Hugo has come in and is a really nice person," Friedel told talkSPORT. "He's a super goalkeeper but we have two other really good goalkeepers in Heurelho Gomes and Carlo Cudicini. "We have friendly, and healthy, competition for places. Hopefully we will have long runs in all the cup competitions and there's going to be plenty of matches to share around." Lloris was among the substitutes yesterday, but he may start Thursday's UEFA Europa League clash against Lazio at White Hart Lane. The Frenchman was content to sit out the 3-1 win over Reading, which came courtesy of two goals from Jermain Defoe and another from Gareth Bale, but does expect to be playing soon. "I am in an adaptation period, I've had very few training sessions, and there are players that I didn't know. But I am expecting time on the pitch," Lloris told L'Equipe. "Things were very clear from the start on Sunday. I was at the disposal of (Tottenham goalkeeping coach) Tony Parks and Brad Friedel. That pitch, that atmosphere, that gives you desire to play. Moreover we got three points that made us start our season." "For me, it is a period to manage. Obviously I have desire. I came here to play. I am at the club, I know where I have to go to. I had a talk with the coach, as he said, and I know everyone at Tottenham wanted me to come." FIFA