Spurs seek to avoid Champions League heartache

Danny Rose has revealed Tottenham players were in tears when they lost the Premier League title last season and says they are desperate to avoid similar disappointment in the Champions League.

Spurs face table-toppers Monaco at the Stade Louis II tonight, with their hopes of qualification from Group E hanging by a thread. Two defeats at Wembley have left Mauricio Pochettino’s men playing catch-up behind second-placed Bayer Leverkusen and they must beat Monaco to have a realistic chance of avoiding an early exit.

Tottenham have only just recovered from their most recent heartache in May, when a 2-2 draw at Chelsea spoiled their title challenge and instead crowned Leicester champions.

Spurs return to Stamford Bridge in the league this weekend, but must first set about reviving their fortunes in Europe.

“The feeling after the Chelsea game last season is one that I never want to feel again,” Rose said.

“There were people upset, crying in the changing room after that game. It’s a feeling that we never want to feel again as a football club. “I hope everyone has learned from that and we are going to try and push on this season.

“If we don’t win, it looks like we are out of the Champions League. We have worked so hard for years and years to get this opportunity.

“We know if we don’t win on Tuesday then we are more or less out of the competition, so the manager will put out a strong team, I am sure, and we will go out to win that and then again on Saturday against Chelsea.”

Meanwhile Hugo Lloris believes Harry Kane’s return can prove the turning point in Tottenham’s faltering Champions League campaign. The striker’s late double fired his side to their first victory in eight matches against West Ham on Saturday and Lloris believes his return from injury could be pivotal.

“He is bringing a lot of positive energy, as we saw against Arsenal and West Ham. He is a very important player for us. [Against Monaco] he is going to be decisive, hopefully. It’s simple. He is one of the leaders and tomorrow is an important moment for Tottenham this season, so we need all our top players at the top level.

“It’s our responsibility tomorrow to play at that level.”

Pochettino will make late decisions on Dele Alli, who is recovering from a knee injury, and Mousa Dembele, who has a niggling foot problem.

“It’s clear that tomorrow is the most important game,” Pochettino said yesterday. “Our selection for tomorrow will be if the players that are fit or not, that can play 90 minutes or not. We need to assess Harry Kane, Mousa Dembele and Dele Alli, if they can play 90 minutes and don’t take any risks that can affect for the next games.

“We have one day less than Monaco to recover, because they play Friday, we play Saturday. Today is a very important day to assess and see if the players are fully recovered to play tomorrow.”

Monaco ripped Spurs apart on the counter-attack in their surprise 2-1 victory in September and Pochettino admits Tottenham must guard against over-committing at the Stade Louis II.

“It’s a game that we must win, but we need to find a way how,” Pochettino said.

“We have a good team in front, we know Monaco very well. We always want to win every game we play, but it’s not about taking more or less risks, but to be clever, follow the plan and try to win after 90 minutes.

“That’s our idea, our challenge. It’s not about risks, it’s about balance in football.”

Lloris also moved to ease concerns about his future. The goalkeeper is yet to extend his current contract, which expires in 2019, but insists he is happy at White Hart Lane.

“There is nothing to worry about,” Lloris said.

“Let’s see what will happen, but I feel fully committed to the club, I’m enjoying my time here, but at the moment I’m only focused on tomorrow’s game.”