Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has channeled his inner Buzz Lightyear to motivate his players ahead of their Champions League semi-final.

They face Ajax tonight in the first leg at Tottenham's new stadium and Pochettino says they're aiming to achieve something special.

"You need to set your dreams to infinity and beyond.

"When you achieve things it's because you dream them. To be in the Champions League semi-final with Tottenham was a dream five years ago - but we're living the dream.

"You know we must always dream for the moon if you want to get something in the sky."

Spurs recovered from being on the brink of elimination in the group stages this year before getting a draw at fellow semi-finalists Barcelona on the final day to advance to the knock-out stages. They accounted for Borussia Dortmund in the round of 16 before knocking out Premier League leaders Manchester City in the quarters and Pochettino says they can draw confidence from their performances in the last two rounds.

"We have a spirit in the team that we can achieve anything and all is possible - that's our strength.

"We have a great opportunity to be here playing the semi-final. It has not happened often.

"We must show respect for our opponents and Ajax fully deserve to be where they are. It's going to be a very competitive game."

Tottenham are playing in the last-four of the European Cup for the first time since 1962 and Pochettino feels they've come a long way in recent seasons.

"What is a thing we feel most? Proud, because we can develop two different things in football that no other club could do: the most unbelievable facilities and then put the club on the sports side in a very competitive place, reduce the gap to the top four, be contenders and play Champions League in three or four years.

"Normally it's to move to the new stadium and then be competitive and look to play in the Champions League. Look how far ahead we are.

"Maybe we didn't win a trophy, but what we achieve as a club is massive.

"Maybe more than winning a trophy. I don't think anyone in history has achieved what Tottenham have made."