Dier: Spurs riding the crest of a wave

Spurs beat the reigning Spanish and European champions 3-1 at Wembley, something which Dier says can only help the club in their search for silverware.

"I believe what we are doing is right that has been the case for a long time. Win lose or draw against Real Madrid, that would have been the same. Winning that game has obviously given us confidence as individuals and as a group," he explained.

"You've got to keep trying to improve and push the boundaries. That's the same for club and country; you've got to keep trying to improve. That's the key.

"The games we have had in the last month have been really good and the results have been very positive. Obviously, Manchester City have been fantastic recently but there is so much football to be played before the end. I'm sure there are going to be lots of twists and turns before the end."

Meanwhile, Dier said that he has a double motivation for helping Spurs maintain their strong form as he looks to ensure that he is named in the England squad for next summer's World Cup.

"Playing for your country is the pinnacle of football," he enthused.

"It is what you all want to do and it has to be special. I think that it's essential, you cannot just think you will be in every squad because you have done 'X and X' in previous years. It has to be constant.

"You always have to be on your toes to get the call-up otherwise you can become complacent and I don't think that is a good thing."