Jan Vertonghen believes Tottenham Hotspur may have to wait until the final game of the Champions League group stages to secure qualification for the last 16.

Last night’s goalless stalemate with Bayer Leverkusen left Spurs a point behind group leaders AS Monaco after they were held to a 1-1 draw by CSKA Moscow.

Vertonghen is eager for the club to secure safe passage as soon as possible but accepted their fate may be decided in their final match against CSKA.

“We will try and qualify as soon as we can and win every game,” the Belgian told the Evening Standard.

“It will help us in the league if we can get through to the last 16 early, but I think this will go to the last game.”

After suffering a surprise defeat to Monaco in their first European fixture of the season at Wembley, Spurs have recovered well to take four points from two games.

Vertonghen says the loss to the Ligue 1 side provided Tottenham with a warning and they have since improved in Europe.

He said: “We are a tough team and we have shown that this season. The game against Monaco was just a blip.

“While it is too strong to say it was a wake-up call, I think it made us all aware that we can be beaten. We have shown great resistance and got good results since then.”

With Spurs’ involvement in the Champions League being their first since 2011, it is clear the club have made strides under Mauricio Pochettino’s management.

The Argentine has built a strong, youthful squad and has been quick to tie a number of key players down to long-term contracts.

Vertonghen says maintaining a settled side is integral to the White Hart Lane club’s success going forward and hinted he is eager to commit to Spurs for the foreseeable future.

He said: “It’s important that so many of us are agreeing new deals and all think the same about Tottenham.

“The way we want to stay together for years and believe in what we are doing here, it is great.”