Cahill warns Tottenham heat is now on in Europe

GARY CAHILL has warned Tottenham the pressure will be on in Greece this week.

Spurs start their Champions League campaign at Olympiakos on Wednesday, having lost to Liverpool in the final last season.

And Crystal Palace defender Cahill, who lifted the trophy with Chelsea in 2012, believes Mauricio Pochettino’s side will be battling increased expectations this time around – as well as their opponents.

“The expectation level rises,” he said. “You are seen as a bigger club and they will want you to challenge again – not just for the Champions League but for the Premier League title and the cups.

“That’s what it is like at all big clubs. I’m sure the manager, players, fans and everyone at Tottenham expect to be challenging.

“When you get to the Champions League final there is an expectation from within and outside that you will do it again purely because you had done so well the year before. But it’s not that easy.You cannot look too far ahead.”

Cahill, above, said Palace’s nightmare defeat on Saturday was a one off – and boss Roy Hodgson will hope so after two-goal Son Heung-Min was given the freedom of the park.

“That performance was out of character,” said Cahill. “We didn’t do the basics.We left so many gaps all over the pitch.” TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1): Lloris 7; Aurier 7, Alderweireld 7, Vertonghen 7, Rose 7 (Davies 75, 6); Winks 7 (Ndombele 66, 7), Sissoko 6; Son 7, Eriksen 6, Lamela 8; Kane 7 (Moura 84). Goals: Son 10, 23, Van Aanholt 21 og, Lamela 42.

CRYSTAL PALACE (4-1-4-1): Guaita 4; Ward 4, Sakho 4, Cahill 4, Van Aanholt 3; Milivojevic 5; Zaha 6, Kouyate 5 (McCarthy 5), Schlupp 5, Townsend 5 (Camarasa 84); Ayew 4 (Benteke 70, 5).