Jurgen Klinsmann heaped praise on Tottenham striker Harry Kane ahead of the Champions League last-16 tie against Milan.
Kane has been in excellent form for Spurs this season, scoring 17 goals in 23 Premier League games, though he only managed to find the net once in six Champions League group outings.
Klinsmann, who had two spells with the club in the 1990s, called Kane a "symbol" for club and country, and hopes he can win some silverware at some point in his career.
Speaking to Stats Perform, Klinsmann said: "Harry Kane is exceptional. He dedicated all his career to Tottenham and he is not only their symbol, but the symbol of English football.
"He breaks one record after the other, but unfortunately he didn't win anything so far and this is a bit sad because a player like him has to quit with at least a couple of trophies in his pocket.
"For Tottenham he is very important, he can energise the team, keep the spirit up in the changing rooms. He never hides away, as you could see in the World Cup when he stepped up on the second penalty [in England's quarter-final defeat to France]. He missed it but he always takes responsibility. Always. He has character and dedication to his club."
The former Germany striker believes the clash with reigning Serie A champions Milan will be "50-50", though also pointed to Spurs boss Antonio Conte's knowledge of his opponents as a potential difference maker.
"Milan are trying to get themselves together in this difficult period but their squad have quality with great players who need to bounce back," he said. "This game v Tottenham is 50-50, especially because Antonio Conte knows everything on Serie A and Milan, so that gives him the edge."
Neither team arrive in ideal form, with Milan's 1-0 win against Torino on Friday their first victory in eight games, while Spurs were on the end of a 4-1 hammering at Leicester City on Saturday.
"It must all come together, the spirit of the squad and the history of the club," Klinsmann added. "For example a couple of months ago we were all praising Milan's spirit and [head coach, Stefano] Pioli, underlining how that club has understood how to build a great team and now they are in a trough. It happens in football and it happens fast, like for Milan.
"Same thing for [Spurs] in England. You always have to be on the same page with the board, the manager and the squad. If they have any problem, and we don't know from here, so it is difficult for us to have an opinion."
Another of Klinsmann's former clubs, Bayern Munich, also play the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday when they travel to face Paris Saint-Germain, and he predicts it could be a contest decided by individual brilliance.
"When you hear those two names, you expect a show... especially with PSG and [Kylian] Mbappe, who is back training and so maybe he will play," he said.
"And [Lionel] Messi, of course, who is back from winning the World Cup, and then Neymar. You can't beat that as offensive players.
"But Bayern are always the same strong squad. Their spirit is always in their great belief in themselves. Even after a couple of bad games, it is not a problem because eventually they always find a way to be successful.
"It will be a very interesting fixture that can be decided by a small detail like a set piece or a corner. Or maybe a moment of brilliance from Messi, Neymar or Mbappe, or even from Thomas Muller who can smell something in the box and slashes it in the back of the net.
"Never underestimate Bayern Munich, they always find a way to advance in the Champions League. Just like Milan v Tottenham, this is another game of 50-50 where anything can happen."
Bayern Munich 4-2 Heidenheim: Musiala stars as leaders pull further ahead
Jamal Musiala came off the bench to score twice as Bundesliga leaders defeated visitors Heidenheim 4-2 to maintain their unbeaten start.
Vincent Kompany's side, who suffered a 1-0 cup defeat to Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday, were without the injured Harry Kane, Manuel Neuer and Serge Gnabry for the home contest.
And the Bavarians got off to a good start when an unmarked Dayot Upamecano headed in the opener in the 19th minute.
But Upamecano's defensive error five minutes into the second half allowed Mathias Honsak to latch on to his poor back pass and fire past Daniel Peretz to make it 1-1.
However, Musiala, introduced straight after that goal, took just five minutes to make an impact as the 21-year-old's low drive from the edge of the box restored Bayern's lead.
Another Bayern substitute, Leon Goretzka, then added a third with a deflected shot in the 84th minute before Heidenheim pulled a goal back through a Niclas Doresch tap-in.
Musiala then settled the nerves for the hosts as he ran onto a through ball from his own half before scoring in the stoppage time to make it 4-2 with his eighth league goal of the season.
The result sees Bayern extend their lead at the top to six points over second-placed Eintracht Frankfurt, while Heidenheim remain in 16th place.
Data Debrief: Bayern can't stop scoring
Bayern Munich have now scored in each of their last 20 games in the Bundesliga, scoring an incredible 57 goals during that run.
They are also the only side to have scored in each of the 13 games in the German top-flight this season.
Kompany's side, who are unbeaten after 13 games in the Bundesliga, have now matched their last joint longest unbeaten streak, which ran from May 2023 to November 2023.
Heidenheim, meanwhile, have lost five games on the trot now - their longest losing streak in the league since at least the 2004/2005 season.
Maresca warns Chelsea against complacency ahead of Tottenham clash
Enzo Maresca has warned high-flying Chelsea that "things can change quickly in football" ahead of their London derby against Tottenham in the Premier League.
Maresca's side are second in the standings with 28 points from 14 matches and are unbeaten in their last six, trailing leaders Liverpool by seven points.
Arsenal also have 28 points, but sit third on goal difference, while champions Manchester City are two points behind the Blues in fourth place.
But Chelsea's Italian head coach once again refused to count his side as one of the contenders for the Premier League title this season.
"I don't think we are there and ready to compete with Arsenal, Liverpool and City. We have to do many more things well, not just score goals," Maresca said.
"Defensively, we are doing well, but we are just focused on Sunday and then the next one.
"We are not thinking about April, May or June. It's too early. Things can change quickly in football. The focus is Sunday."
The Blues have scored 31 goals this season - the most by a team in the league this season, with Cole Palmer their top scorer with nine goals, followed by Nicolas Jackson, who has struck eight times.
They head into the derby on the back of a 5-1 win against Southampton on Wednesday, which was the second time they scored five goals or more in away games this season.
The last time they did the same, they emerged champions under Jose Mourinho during the 2014-15 season.
Meanwhile, their next opponents, Tottenham, were beaten 1-0 by Bournemouth last time out and dropped to 10th place, but Maresca labelled Spurs "a fantastic team."
"Spurs have very good players and a very good manager. What kind of problems they have, I don't know. But they are a fantastic team," he said.
"You see the results, two weeks ago they beat City, so they are a very good team."
The 44-year-old also hailed Noni Madueke, who scored his fifth goal of the season against the Saints and has been involved in three goals in two matches, but reiterated that the winger still has scope to improve.
"Overall he's working well since we started. Sometimes he drops a little bit. He's not allowed to drop. In terms of numbers, he's doing fantastic with goals and assists," Maresca said.
"Off the ball, when we ask him to defend and press, he's doing very well. The only reason I said this the other day is that I want the best from Noni and to get the best you have to push him. If he relaxes a little bit, it's wrong."
'Determined' Postecoglou aiming to turn Tottenham's fortunes around
Ange Postecoglou said he was not "hurting" but "determined" to turn Tottenham's fortunes around after their inconsistent season continued at Bournemouth on Thursday.
Postecoglou watched on as his side slipped to a 1-0 defeat to the Cherries at the Vitality Stadium, with Dean Huijsen's first-half header sealing the victory for the hosts.
The result saw Tottenham slip to 10th in the Premier League, having won just one of their last six games in all competitions, with that victory coming against Manchester City.
Following the full-time whistle, several Tottenham fans confronted Postecoglou as he made his way over to the away end, with the Australian engaging in conversation.
This Sunday, London rivals Chelsea are the visitors to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and Postecoglou is aiming to put things right on home soil.
"I'm not hurting, I'm determined, that's all. I don't want to say it's unacceptable (the fans' abuse) because it is what it is," Postecoglou told reporters.
"I've lived in this world for long enough to know that when people aren't happy they'll express their opinions, and I'm never going to hide, I'm never going to shirk that responsibility. I'll take (it) on board.
"Is it nice? No, because like I said last night, I'm not just a manager, I'm a human being like everyone else. None of us like to hear those sorts of things, but it is what it is.
"It doesn't disappoint me, it doesn't frustrate me, it doesn't make me angry; I'm just as determined as ever to get it right. Not because of that, but because of my resolve to bring success to the football club."
Postecoglou said he was still searching for answers to Spurs’ inconsistency, and is also hoping to improve his own record in London derbies.
After winning his first four games in charge of Tottenham against teams across the capital (W2 D2), Postecoglou has now lost seven of his last 13 such matches (W4 D2).
Adding to his woes was an injury to Ben Davies, who was playing as centre back in the absence of injured duo Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.
“Ben will go for a scan today so we’ll find out more," Postecoglou said. “Cuti’s (Romero) due to training, but we’ll see how he goes on Saturday."
“Chelsea are going really well, they are in a good space at the moment with a fairly healthy squad and in good form.
"Always a tough game against them but we are at home, and we need to make sure we produce a performance like we have in the other games," he added.
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