Not only did the Europa League trophy glittering way in the Eintracht Frankfurt museum offer Tottenham a clue about the sort of competitors they were about to come up against.
It also delivered a shapely warning about where they might end up if they cannot find a way to win games whenever they go through passport control at Stansted Airport.
Marseille fired four past early Group D leaders Sporting Lisbon, on Tuesday, and this is already beginning to look like a genuine four-way tussle for qualification for the last 16.
That could yet play in Antonio Conte’s favour but Spurs have not won away in Europe since February 2021.