LONDON -- Mauricio Pochettino has said he will never set a limit on what Tottenham Hotspur can achieve in the Champions League and insisted: "I am a dreamer."
Spurs host Juventus -- last season's runners-up -- at Wembley in Wednesday's Champions League round-of-16 second leg and Pochettino's side can progress to the quarterfinals with a goalless draw after drawing 2-2 in Turin three weeks ago.
For all Spurs' progress under Pochettino, they are yet to win silverware since his appointment in May 2014 but, on the eve of Juve's visit, the Argentine told his players to be heroes.
"Trying to win one title would be fantastic for everyone and mean a lot because if we can win some trophies along the way it will be complete -- different from other clubs. The players would be heroes because they will have competed with these big sides and it is difficult to beat them," the Spurs manager said.
"We can't set a limit. I don't do that. I am a dreamer. Every chance you have to play you need to try to win and go as far as possible. I am living today and trying to do my best and achieve what we want this season. But I don't set some minimums.
"We know very well that we are going to play one of the best teams in Europe, but we are a brave team, very positive people that love the challenge, and [this game] is a massive challenge.
"We are going to compete, and at the same time try to enjoy, because it's a game to enjoy. I think that's fantastic. We need to think we can win -- we always think in this way -- and then what happens will be a consequence of our performance. If we are capable of performing in the way that we are normally used to doing, I'm sure [on Wednesday] we will be close to a win and advancing to the next stage."
Spurs' steady improvement in Europe has underlined the progress made under Pochettino. Two years ago, they were thrashed by Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League round-of-16, losing 5-1 on aggregate, and last season they beat only CSKA Moscow in the Champions League group stage before dropping into the Europa League again, where they lost to Belgian minnows Gent.
But this season, Spurs picked up more points than any other team in the Champions League group stage, finishing top of a group that contained Dortmund and Spanish, European and world champions Real Madrid.
"We have improved the team every season step by step," Pochettino said. "Maybe no big step but a little step every season. You can see that the team is more mature and more competitive every season. We improved our reputation in Europe after the group stage. People started to respect Tottenham more."
Spurs captain Hugo Lloris echoed Pochettino's sentiments, adding: "It's part of the process. When you have a young team and such young players, even with such quality and potential, you need to live through different experiences and it was the case last season in the Champions League.
"We failed together and the best way is to learn very quickly and that's what we've done together. Before the draw of the group stage, outside everyone was a bit concerned about the future of Tottenham because the group stage was very competitive but we showed our quality and we showed the potential that we've got inside. And now we've got to carry on.
"In football and in life, when you have the chance to play a competition like this and to go as far as possible then you need to take it because you never know what will happen in the next few years. We are here, we deserve a place and we are going to fight and do everything that we can tomorrow to go through. This is our spirit in every competition we are involved."