Harry Kane helped to inspire Tottenham Hotspur’s incredible Champions League semi-final fightback against Ajax with a passionate half-time speech to rescue reputations and give the squad what could be a last chance to write themselves into the club’s history.

Telegraph Sport understands that injured striker Kane asked the Spurs squad, who were two goals out and heading for a tame exit, ‘Is this how we want to be remembered?’

It was not only the Champions League journey that was at stake for some of the players, with the tournament potentially providing a last opportunity for this group to lift a trophy together with manager Mauricio Pochettino warning of a “painful” summer rebuild at the club.

Tottenham have, at times unfairly, been accused of bottling the big occasion and Kane laid it on the line to the players who had been out-fought and out-maneuvered by Ajax during the first half.

Kane challenged the squad over whether or not they wanted yet another season to be ultimately remembered for disappointment, particularly given the effort it took to get past Manchester City. He also questioned how they could be so lacklustre after watching Liverpool’s comeback against Barcelona 24 hours earlier.