Jose Mourinho accused some of his egos of believing they were too big to be in freezing Austria.
Goals from Gareth Bale, Son Heung Min and Dele Alli saw Spurs progress to the knockout stages from Group J.
But Mourinho compared his side’s approach to the attitude shown by his former club Manchester United in the Europa League group stages.
“I have a feeling from my experience that some of the players feel that they shouldn’t be here,” he said.
“I think it's a question of attitude, which I've experienced before.
"Even at Manchester United I had a similar situation when we lost two matches away in the group phase and when we get to the knockouts you get better opponents and more difficulties, the team faces matches in a different way.
“The fact is that the Europa League group phase doesn’t motivate some of the players. I knew it. Some players are fundamental for us and I always need them on the pitch in any circumstance.
"I need a couple of these players to give a little bit of balance to the team, as an example Hojbjerg and Son - without them I don’t think we would have a positive result.”
Mourinho’s side now face Arsenal on Sunday - a match for which Harry Kane is available following his absence from this game with a mystery injury.
“I believe he is going to be fit,” he added. “I am not sure. He is on treatment but I could be now doing some bluff or trying to pretend he is in big trouble.
"He is not in big trouble. I believe he is going to play.”
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