Mauricio Pochettino has insisted playing in the Champions League at the club's new stadium will be a huge motivating factor for Tottenham Hotspur.
A 1-1 draw at Barcelona on Tuesday night was enough to take Tottenham into the last 16 of the Champions League after Inter only managed a draw against PSV Eindhoven in the other group game.
Tottenham were left to climb a steep mountain after their first three group games, but seven points from their last three encounters helped them to squeeze through at Inter’s expense.
Pochettino displayed immense pride at the way Tottenham managed to come back from near death in the group and rally to reach the next round of Europe’s elite club competition.
With Tottenham expected to play their first game as their new stadium before the Champions League returns, the Argentine admits it will act as a huge motivation for his players, who just achieved almost an impossible feat.
He said in a press conference following the game at the Camp Nou: “Yes I am so happy, so proud.
“I remember after Eindhoven nobody believed in us.
"They said it was mission impossible, but we are here. We are in the last 16 and it is a massive achievement for the club.
“I am so happy for the fans that are here and for our fans around the world.
“It is for sure a massive boost for the club and to have the idea to play in the next stage next year in the new stadium is a massive motivation for us.”
After finishing second in their group, Tottenham will face one of Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Porto, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid or Juventus in a last 16 tie.
