Tottenham may have already missed realistic trophy chance this season, says club legend Glenn Hoddle

Glenn Hoddle has suggested Tottenham might have blown their only realistic chance of a trophy this season.

“I don’t know why they didn’t play their strongest side they could possibly play to be honest, and it’s a blow for every Spurs fan out there, but that’s history.

“Not getting through against Sheffield [United]… if you lose away to Liverpool or Man United, that’s a bit different than going to Sheffield United and I think that’s piled on the pressure for the Milan game.

“Now you’re going into this game where, if you get knocked out of that, there’s no trophy coming to Tottenham again this season and if you want to keep your best players, you’re going to have to be successful.”

Tottenham opted to play squad players such as Lucas Moura, Pape Matar Sarr and Davinson Sanchez in the Bramall Lane defeat as well as starting Richarlison ahead of Harry Kane up front.

The Brazilian forward has scored just twice in 24 appearances since his £60 million summer move from Everton.

Hoddle worries that a lack of on-pitch success will eventually see top stars leaving the club.

“Getting top four would be successful to a degree,” he suggested. “But it’s not going to keep players at the club, not like Kane or maybe even Son.

“They want to be associated with winning things, so I think it was a massive blow and a big mistake really not to play your best XI.

“Yes, Sheffield United could still knock [their best XI] out, but it knocks on the pressure for the Milan game.”

Despite this, Hoddle is backing Spurs to navigate their way past the reigning Serie A champions, and feels the abolition of the away goals rule will work in their favour on the night.

“It makes it slightly easier nowadays without the away goals [going into the second leg], because you would always be on the back foot thinking: ‘If they get an away goal, we are stuffed.’

“But [the new rule] allows you to go [for it] at a certain time in the game if you’re still one goal down.

“This isn’t a top, top Milan [team] of yesteryear, but it’s still a very good side and the tie is so balanced.”

He added: “For Tottenham, an early goal would be fantastic because it sets the stadium alight, it settles everyone down and it poses a little question to them, so at the moment they’ve got something to defend and hang onto.

“The [Spurs] players will be totally up for this. They’ll be a different animal at Tottenham. I think the atmosphere will make the players play at a quicker tempo.

“When they play like that – which they did against Man City, and Chelsea in the second half – they’re a decent side.”