Atletico Madrid fullback Kieran Trippier says Tottenham's players were hit by the departure of Mousa Dembele.

Dembele left Spurs last season for Guangzhou R&F.

Trippier told The Beautiful Game podcast: “They've got quality players, but, for me, the little fine margins of winning something is obviously when Mousa left. That's my opinion. As a player you don't want to see a player like Mousa leave, especially in January. Unless there was something that he needed to leave or whatever, I honestly don't know.

“For me it didn't make sense because he's the fine margins of winning you the Champions League final. That's how good he was. He could have three players around him and you could give him the ball.

“The amount of respect the players had for him, and to see a player like that leave in January when you are going through a difficult season, for me it didn't make sense.

“That's just my opinion. I don't want to speak on any of the players' thoughts on that. That's just my opinion. As soon as he goes it just saps it out of you because you've lost Mousa Dembele."