Ramos far from satisfied

Hapoel Tel-Aviv 0 Tottenham 2

Ramos is still shaping his team at Spurs and they started poorly at Bloomfield Stadium before Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov scored the goals to settle the Group G clash.

Berbatov started the day by issuing a statement insisting he was happy at Spurs but that speculation about his future had affected his form, and his header in the 31st minute from Steed Malbranque’s was only his third goal of the season.

Ramos, though, refused to single out Berbatov for praise.

“I believe in looking at a team rather than at any particular individual players,” said the Spaniard.

Keane had settled the nerves five minutes earlier with the opener, a volley also from a Malbranque cross.

But Ramos was far from pleased. “We didn’t play well enough but after the two goals I felt better and I could think about Sunday,” he said.

Although his negative body language has been criticised in recent weeks, it appeared difficult to suggest Berbatov does not care when he got angry with Keane after an attack broke down.

“It’s positive from the point of view that the players want to take advantage of all the opportunities,” Ramos added.

“There were occasions when we should have done better to try to get another goal, that is possibly the reason why there were some differences between the players. But that ambition to do things well is positive.”

Hopes of Hapoel getting back in the game evaporated early in the second half when Gal Shish was dismissed for his second bookable offence.

It meant Spurs are back on track for the knockout stage after losing against Getafe in their opening group game, the night Martin Jol was dismissed.

But Ramos admitted his thoughts started turning to Sunday’s clash against Wigan when the win was sealed.

“It was a typical UEFA Cup game and winning was very important for us after losing the first game,” he added.

“I saw the team grow in confidence and I am confident about Sunday’s match.”

Hapoel Tel-Aviv: Enyeama, Bakshi (45 Manzor), Chen, Gabriel, Shish, Natcho, Mazowa, Abutbul (45 Abedi), Dego (58 Antebi), Badir, Fabio Junior.

Tottenham: Robinson, Stalteri, Chimbonda, Dawson, Lee, Lennon, Zokora, Jenas (68 Boateng), Malbranque (56 Defoe), Berbatov, Keane (68 Bent).

Ref: Grzegorz Gilewski