Tim Sherwood believes Tottenham will have 'failed' if they do not reach the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Spurs travel to Marseille for their crunch final group stage game with any one of the four teams still able to qualify.
Tottenham were close to securing their place in the knockout stages, before VAR disallowed a late winner against Sporting
Antonio Conte's side are in control of their own destiny, needing just a point to get through while a win will see them top the group.
Former Spurs manager Sherwood told talkSPORT Breakfast: "It's going to be tough. It's a cup final. It boils down to this.
"If I had to manage one team, I'd want to be in Tottenham's dressing room but I'd also want them to play on the front foot from the word go.
"If they start giving a goal start like they've done recently because they are playing so defensively, then they could get unstuck.
"They need to get the ball early to Heung-min Son and Harry Kane and they need to use their offensive players to dominate Marseille.
"It's the most competitive group in the Champions League and it would be a failure if they didn't qualify for the knockout stages."
Conte will be watching from the stands after his red card last week
Conte will not be allowed on the touchline after his red card in the aftermath of their disallowed winner against Sporting Lisbon.
Sherwood described just how tough it is to watch the match from the stands.
He said: "I lasted about five minutes in the stands, it's impossible. You go there with the right intentions and think you can get a better view of the game, but it's very difficult.
"On the touchline everything is very quick and it's difficult to see sometimes and you have a coach sitting up there for you.
"Antonio Conte is normally jumping around and that breathes into his players. Sometimes it can be good and sometimes it can get anxious.
Sherwood was Spurs boss for 28 games
"You'd want him on the touchline with you, he knows how to win and there's none bigger this season than this game."
Instead Conte will travel with the players on the bus to the game, which he usually doesn't do, and Sherwood joked the players may need to prepare themselves for the journey.
Asked what Conte will likely tell his players on the bus ride to the stadium, he said: "Just individual stuff and whatever he thinks is necessary for the game tonight.
"The boys will need to take the headache tablets as he will be in their earholes on the way over, they'll probably be a bit of traffic over there as well.
"He's very intense and there's no stone unturned. He wants to do his job and once they cross that line it's up to them.
"He just wants to do everything he can to prepare them for that game."
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