Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Gareth Bale has admitted that everyone at the club is still hurting from failing to qualify for the Champions League last season.

Spurs only missed out on the Champions League after Chelsea beat Bayern Munich in the final of the competition in May, but Bale has insisted that the club are still taking the Europa League seriously.

Bale told Goal.com: "I think everybody wants to be playing in the Champions League.

"Obviously we were unfortunate not to get in there last season but this is the next best thing.

"We've all put 100% in every game we have played, we have taken the competition seriously and hopefully we can win this one."

Tottenham beat Maribor 3-1 on Thursday evening to move up to second place in their Europa League group.