Coming off back-to-back losses in the Premier League, Spurs head to San Siro to begin their European campaign.

Spurs have gained some Champions League experience in the past two seasons, a group-stage exit in 2016-2017 followed by a last-16 loss last campaign.

But, using an unusual analogy, Pochettino said that experience would only count if his players made the most of it.

''Look, experience is experience but you need to apply the experience, plus the hunger, plus your own motivation," he said. "If you're not clever, experience on its own is not going to help you in the future.

"It's like a cow who sees a train crossing in front [of it] at the same time every single day for 10 years. If you ask the cow when the train is coming, he's not going to have the right answer.

"Football is the same but hunger, motivation, circumstance, many things in football are so important."

Pochettino will be without defenders Kieran Trippier and Toby Alderweireld for the trip to Milan, the manager citing a "technical decision" for their absences.