Toby Alderweireld has warned Spurs not to be satisfied with having reached a Champions League Final.
The Belgian defender believes the club must now build on the new mentality instilled by Mauricio Pochettino if they want to emulate triumphant Liverpool .
The Reds used their heartbreak of last year at the hands of Real Madrid to run Manchester City close in the Premier League and to clinch the Champions League trophy.
Alderweireld said: “Of course everybody is very disappointed but we have to look at it like this: Its the next step that we have taken and now we have to keep going.
“Not think: ‘Oh we are happy with the final and maybe in a couple of years [we’ll be back].’ No, no. Next year we want to be here again.’
“That’s the mentality, the philosophy we have in this group. To improve every season. And again with the new stadium, with the new vibe in the team, we’ll do good.
“Every year in the Champions League we’ve improved. It’s difficult to talk about next season now. We are very disappointed. But in a couple of days we need to get our heads together then we next season we go again.”
The focus is now on Spurs to see whether they will bring in the quality to reboot Pochettino’s overachievers, with the manager set to be backed by club bosses.
Spurs have already had big-money bids rejected for Real Betis midfielder Giovani Lo Celso and Lyon midfield enforcer Tanguy Ndombele.
They are also keen on Celta Vigo striker Maxi Gomez and young Fulham wide-man Ryan Sessegnon.
Chairman Daniel Levy, with whom Pochettino bonded during Tottenham's Champions League journey this season, is eager to show his manager they can match his ambition.
Levy is also mindful the Argentinian quit as Southampton boss in 2014 after they were unable to provide him with assurances they’d be able to keep their best players and break into the elite after finishing eighth that season.
