Three key men who could help Tottenham in the Champions League final

Mauricio Pochettino will guide his side into an unexpected Champions League final in Madrid, against fellow Premier League side and five-time winners Liverpool.

Tottenham have endured a tumultuous time in the elite European competition, finding themselves on the brink of elimination on several occasions. They made it out of the group stage with a point on the final matchday against Barcelona, before a last-gasp goal by Raheem Sterling was ruled out due to VAR in quarter-final.

The semi-final followed where Lucas Moura scored with the final kick of the game to put Spurs into the final and an opportunity for Pochettino to start his trophy cabinet with the biggest one of all.

For much of this season, Spurs have suffered with injuries, Harry Kane has struggled to maintain fitness whilst Serge Aurier, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld have all suffered with injury issues.

But others have stepped up to the plate to put Spurs in the final of the biggest club competition in the world, here we look at three players who could prove key in this historic final at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Dele Alli

Dele Alli celebrates scoring in a 3-1 win at Chelsea last season, Tottenham’s first win at Stamford Bridge in 28 years (Photo: AFP)

Dele Alli has struggled to hit the heights of previous seasons, managing just five goals and three assists this season, but has still played a pivotal role in Tottenham’s run to the final.

In Amsterdam, the England midfielder was the coolest head in the stadium, despite the occasion. Alli has a reputation for being hot-headed and you could be excused for thinking he would crumble under the pressure of a semi-final that his team were losing grasp of.

But instead, he let his football do the talking and played a huge part in the comeback over Ajax. His pass for Lucas Moura in the dying seconds was one of perfect precision and weight, in the most frantic of situations.

Tottenham will be hoping that he can replicate that calm influence in the final, and use his intelligent movement to get the better of Fabinho in midfield.

Lucas Moura

Lucas Moura’s last-gasp winner in Amsterdam sealed a famous comeback victory and a place in the Champions League final (Photo: Reuters)

The hero of the semi-final in Amsterdam. The Brazilian scored a hat-trick to send Spurs to the final in the most dramatic of fashions and proved that he is capable of providing that finishing touch when Kane is unavailable.

The £25m man has shown versatility all season, filling in on either wing and down the middle when both Kane and Heung-Min Son were out and has proved to be a reliable part of the squad.

Lucas was Tottenham’s last signing, in January of 2018 and has taken a while to settle and look like an integral part to the team. But his pace and finishing has come good at the right time for Pochettino who will be hoping he can replicate that semi-final performance and give Virgil van Dijk all kinds of issues in the final third.

Moussa Sissoko

Credit: Getty Images

Once a laughing stock at the club after his big money move from Newcastle, Sissoko has turned his career at Spurs around and is now the most important midfielder in the team.

He may not produce the final product at the same rate as Dele Alli or Christian Eriksen, but his athleticism, ability to carry the ball and never say die attitude ensure when fit, he is one of the first names on the team sheet.

Sissoko adds a dynamism to the midfield which those around him cannot, his injury in the second leg against Man City proved his importance to the team as they struggled in the centre of the park for prolonged periods.

In a final where the midfield will prove to be a harsh battling ground, it is essential Sissoko is at the top of his game to compete with the likes of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Gini Wijnaldum.