Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Christian Eriksen has spoken about his belief that he and his teammates can take the next step in their development this season, with Champions League football now firmly on their schedule.
August draw edging closer
Members of the Spurs squad that haven't been on international duty returned for pre-season training on Friday, with Mauricio Pochettino hoping to go even better than their impressive third place finish in last season's Premier League.
That high spot earnt them automatic qualification for the Champions League, and they'll enter the draw on August 25 via pot three, meaning they could meet heavyweights such as Barcelona and Bayern Munich in the Group Stage.
Eriksen delighted to finally taste the Champions League with Spurs
Eriksen, who has tasted Europe's premier club competition in the past with Ajax, told the club's official website that "it's something that we have a club have wanted for a while now", adding that he thinks Spurs will "improve as a team" by being involved.
It's been something of a process, with progression over two years under Pochettino's guidance, Eriksen admitting that they've "been close in the last few years", but now they've shown their capability of "doing big things and playing really good football".
The Denmark international added; "Of course, we need to take it to the next step next season, and I think we can do that".
Before the Champions League draw, Tottenham will kick-off their Premier League campaign away to Everton at Goodison Park, with a home game against Crystal Palace making up their only other fixture before their European opponents are revealed.
They'll get a taste of what's to come in pre-season, with Pochettino's side to play against Juventus and Atletico Madrid as they seek to get match sharp for the real stuff to begin.