The man who is aiming to knock Tottenham out of Europe is recalling the time he hoped they would make his dreams come true.
In the summer of 2012, after emerging from the European Championships as one of the hottest talents on the continent, Alan Dzagoev thought he was destined to end up at White Hart Lane.
He had grown up in Russia watching the Premier League, so the constant chatter about Tottenham left him wondering whether this would be his moment.
'People asked me: "Do you want to join Spurs?