MATT BARLOW: Harry Kane’s belief that he must leave Tottenham for trophies was reinforced in Milan

Italy’s sports pages hailed a Milan team reborn, their champions rediscovering the magic touch after a dreadful patch of winter form as they claimed a one-goal advantage over Tottenham.

The Spurs players flew home convinced they could overturn a slender deficit in London and progress to the last eight of the Champions League. ‘Tough game away from home but we are only half way,’ was Harry Kane’s post match message on social media. ‘We need to keep fighting all together.’

This tie could go either way from here. It is perfectly poised for a thrilling second leg, when Antonio Conte’s team must take the game to opponents who are dangerously direct on the counter-attack.

The breathless closing phase in the San Siro offered a glimpse of what is in store. Milan risked more in search of a second. As they did, the spaces tempted Tottenham to do the same because an equaliser and a draw would have made for an excellent result.

Yet, in truth, neither team had the look potential Champions League winners. There are stronger, more complete teams in the competition. This is not vintage Milan and Spurs are maddeningly inconsistent, capable of beating Manchester City at home but fragile enough away to take a hiding at Leicester.

Tottenham’s defeat in Milan can only have reinforced Harry Kane’s belief that he must leave

Spurs were beaten 1-0 by AC Milan in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 battle

They are far too reliant on Kane, who needs to leave this summer to challenge for major titles

They have won only five of 11 since the World Cup. They rely heavily on Kane for goals. More so than ever since Conte’s attempts to tighten up at the back following last month’s meltdown at City, when they conceded four in the second half.

Significant progress is hard to find on the pitch at Spurs. They have rolled from Mauricio Pochettino to Jose Mourinho to Nuno Espirto Santo to Conte without developing greatly on the pitch.

In a good year, they can challenge for the top four and yet those trophies remain elusive. The team not as strong as the one that reached its peak five years ago, finishing second under Pochettino in the Premier League and going on to reach the Champions League final, a year later.

Nights like the one in the San Siro can only reinforce Kane’s belief that he has to move on if he is to challenge seriously for major titles. Approaching 30 and with little more than a year on his contract, this summer feels like the right time for the separation regardless of what happens in the second leg against Milan.