Mauricio Pochettino has insisted Tottenham's players do have a winning mentality, and says ambitions at the club are "very high".
Much has been made of Spurs' failure to win a trophy since 2008, despite five impressive years under Pochettino's management.
Defeats to Burnley and Chelsea in the Premier League, followed by a draw at home to Arsenal, has seen Spurs fall 10 points behind leaders Manchester City, but Pochettino believes his players know how to win trophies.
He said: "This season, no-one believed in us, but because we have warriors and players that are heroes - we are here because of that.
"Our mentality is a Champions League, World Cup-winner mentality. But in different aspects, maybe we need to improve more to have the capacity to fight for big things. In my last five years, I think the improvement is massive.
"This group of players are really ambitious. The club is really ambitious. Another thing is what we can do. If we cannot sign in the last two transfer windows, that doesn't mean we are not ambitious.
"We are so ambitious, and we set our goals very high. That is why we are here, in a very good position in the Premier League and Champions League."
Pochettino was speaking ahead of Tottenham's Champions League last-16, second-leg tie away to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, in which they hold a 3-0 lead.
The manager has vowed to take the game to the Bundesliga leaders, though, saying: "We need to play how we always play - try to win the game. That is the most important.
"We cannot think about the first leg. It is important to start the game at a very good level. We must be aggressive and fight from the beginning. High tempo, that is the key.
"We know Dortmund is a great team. They are at the top of the Bundesliga because they deserve to be there. It is going to be tough because they are going to be so aggressive.
"But we are going to be ready because we know the 3-0 at Wembley is not important tomorrow."