Juande Ramos can turn a short contract at Real Madrid into a long-term reign, Gus Poyet told Revista.
'Ramos can build himself Bernabeu future'
Juande Ramos can turn a short-term opportunity at Real Madrid into a long-term reign, his former assistant told
Revista De La Liga.
Gus Poyet, who worked with the Spaniard at White Hart Lane, admits that his former boss has been thrown in at the deep end at the Bernabeu - with Saturday's trip to rampant rivals Barcelona his first meaningful game.
But less than two months after his time at Spurs ended in such undignified fashion, Ramos leapt at the chance to rebuild his reputation as Bernd Schuster's Real successor - even on a temporary contract until the end of the season.
And Poyet believes the former Sevilla coach, whose stock in Spain remains high after he masterminded successive UEFA Cup wins in Andalucia, has the tools to succeed.
"Juande couldn't refuse", the Uruguayan told Mark Bolton. "When you get the sack from a team like Spurs of course you are not happy, you get a little bit of sadness.
"Then two months later having the chance to go to Real Madrid...I know it's difficult and everybody wants to put different conditions in the contract, but sometimes you have to give something to go to a big club.
"I'm sure Juande will try so hard in the next six or seven months to earn maybe a two or three-year contract with Real Madrid. It's a gamble, but I'm sure he's convinced he can do it."
Tactics
Ramos inherits a Real side languishing outside the Champions League spots and leaking goals - seven in their last two Liga games, both of which ended in defeat - and there is little doubt in Poyet's mind what his immediate priority will be.
He said: "One thing which is key is working with the defence. Real Madrid, with the quality of their players, won't have too many problems going forward, but at the moment they cannot defend - they are conceding too many goals.
"I'm quite sure, because he did the same at Spurs, the first few weeks are going to be all about tactics and defending.
"I think he's going to do it - he knows the mentality needed in Spain, he knows the game in Spain and he's got the quality, which at the end of the day is the most important thing.
"When you change the manager you're looking for a reaction, so he's going to have a reaction from the players as well - they have to look at themselves and realise that all the responsibility was not Schuster's."
Humiliation
Poyet's optimism was not wholly shared by Spain-based journalist and
Revista regular Graham Hunter, who suggested Ramos' appointment ahead of such a huge game was a desperate move by the Real hierarchy.
He said "It's the equivalent of an NFL 'Hail Mary' pass - it's the last minute, you're on your fourth down, you try a long pass.
"Everybody would say a new manager deserves to come in not facing the humiliation of being pummelled at the Camp Nou.
"Perhaps that 'Hail Mary' lands in the right hands and it's a touchdown; maybe Juande Ramos can change things sufficiently - we've seen it often that a new coach can galvanise concentration.
"Maybe if you mix that with the intention the Real players will take to the Camp Nou not to be beaten, MAYBE it will come off.
"If he's pummelled he'll be forgiven, but it's a heck of a way to start. The timing is a terrible thing to give any new manager."
