Spurs and Manchester United are the two English representatives in the quarter-finals of the competition, with both on level terms in their respective ties against Eintracht Frankfurt and Lyon.

With Champions League qualification on offer, the Europa League provides the opportunity for the two sides to salvage something from difficult campaigns in the Premier League, with 14th-place United just a point and a place above Tottenham.

Cahill won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012, as well as the Europa League on two occasions, in 2013 and 2019.

The former defender knows both sides have the opportunity to transform their seasons by lifting the trophy, but believes Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou needs it more than under Man Utd head coach Ruben Amorim.

"Both teams have struggled in the Premier League this season, not playing particularly well at all," he said.  "Manchester United, obviously, is steeped in history in terms of winning trophies. It would be interesting to see what the movements are like in the summer in terms of players that come in and leave. So, that's very much a project.

"And Tottenham, this would really save their season. This would save their season big time. To pick up a trophy and qualify for the Champions League is what they want to be doing. Outside of that, they fall short of both. So it's huge for Tottenham.

"In terms of Ange, I think it will be interesting to see if both the manager and the club part ways or not, if they fall out of the competition.

"Ultimately, I'm sure he's fully focused on the job in hand. It's a distraction from the Premier League for them. The pressure is you have to go and win this competition to save your season, and it's still in their hands."