Ramos: PSV 'an important test'

Ramos: 'Important test'

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Tottenham head coach Juande Ramos sees his team's Uefa Cup clash against PSV Eindhoven as "an important test".

Spurs line up against the Dutch champions at White Hart Lane on Thursday for the first-leg of the last 16 clash.

The Spanish coach is looking for a hat-trick of Uefa Cup successes after lifting the trophy in the last two seasons with Sevilla.

Looking ahead to the tie, he said: "It's an important test, PSV are at a high level and this is a barometer of where we can go and if we can compete at that level.

"Then I will know if my players have the ability for this stage."

There has been much speculation about Ramos' potential dealings in the transfer market.

Strengths

But the Spaniard says members of the current squad still have everything to play for, adding: "They have three months to show their strengths.

"There are many minutes on the pitch and if they show they are capable of playing for this club in that time then they will stay."

After tasting the highs of the Carling Cup success, Spurs were brought down to earth with a bump when they lost 4-1 at Birmingham on Saturday.

Reflecting on the game, Ramos said: "The Birmingham defeat hurt me and the players and they are desperate to rectify it.

"I don't think it was to do with how we celebrated winning a cup, we were found out because we went into the game not thinking it was important. I'm glad we celebrated but we weren't prepared for the next game."

Ramos has a reputation as a disciplinarian but he describes his style as "just".

Individual

He added: "You have to treat every individual as an individual. Sometimes you have to show them affection, sometimes you have to shout at them.

"It's like a child, sometimes you have to give them a sweet, when they are bad you have to shout at them."

Spurs - who will parade the Carling Cup for fans ahead of kick-off against PSV - have defenders Jonathan Woodgate and Ledley King back in the squad for the game.

The former Middlesbrough defender returns from a sprained ankle, while King is continuing to be brought back gradually from his knee surgery last summer.

"At the moment it is how his knee comes on and how it gets better," Ramos said.

"From then on we can decide if it's going to be more stable and he can then play more games. It's not something we can decide at the moment."