Video: HaytersTV
Dele Alli says Tottenham deserve to be regarded as one of the world’s elite clubs after dramatically clinching a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Alli played a key role as Spurs pulled off a sensational triumph against Manchester City to reach the last four.
“We’ve proved that we deserve to be here at the top, amongst the top teams in the world,” Alli said.
“We want to keep improving each season and I think we’ve done that. We’ve got further and further in the Champions League each year.”
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino described his players as “heroes” after their sensational away-goals victory.
Pochettino said: “We deserve to be in the semi-final. My players are heroes. After making the semi-finals and making history I am more than proud of them.”
Tottenham were without the injured Harry Kane and will also be missing Son Heung-min for the semi-final first leg against Ajax as he will be suspended.
But Pochettino believes his squad players can rise to the challenge.
He said: “Of course. It’s better to play with all your players fit and of course we are going to miss some players, but football is about the squad and the collective effort.
“The most important thing is to have faith and belief and be competitive. We showed that all is possible in football.”