Ramos: we won’t park the bus at the Bridge

JUANDE RAMOS insists it is not his style to “park the bus” at Stamford Bridge, like Tottenham were accused of doing when they last earned a point at Chelsea.

Spurs have a woeful record at the Bridge but battled to a 0-0 draw three seasons ago under Jacques Santini, angering Jose Mourinho at the time.

“They brought the bus and they left the bus in front of the goal,” Mourinho famously said.

Ramos’ success at Sevilla was based on attacking at pace and even though he has prioritised sorting out his defence since arriving at White Hart Lane in October, it is not his way to play for a stalemate.

“How did they allow a bus into the ground? I think it’s illegal,” Ramos joked.

It was this approach that saw him linked with taking over from Mourinho to bring excitement to Chelsea, before Avram Grant eventually took the reins. “Every manager and team has it’s own style,” Ramos added. “What we have to do is analyse the team we’re playing and select the tactics in order to win the game.

“We’re looking for a good style because it is the type of football that leads to victories. What we are managing to do is combine attractive football with solid play and this is what will lead us to better results.”

Ramos has been pleased with the progress in his first few months at Spurs and has also shown a ruthless streak, dropping Paul Robinson against Arsenal on Wednesday and telling Jermain Defoe he can leave if he wishes.

The draw at the Emirates Stadium, leaving the two-legged Carling Cup semi-final balanced on a knife edge, has shown Ramos that the gap between Spurs and the top four of the Barclays Premier League is possible to close. “We are improving little by little,” said the Spaniard. “Before we were in a very low position in the league but we are beginning to regain confidence so as to be able to compete on the same level as the bigger teams.

“Little by little they are beginning to understand the way I want them to play and we’re getting some results from that. Our results are pretty much in line with our play at the moment.

“Obviously it is a very exciting time for us with semi-finals and big matches to play. I’m enjoying them a lot, especially if we’re getting positive results then it’s football I’m really enjoying.”

A result at Stamford Bridge would offer hope of resurrecting their Premier League campaign, although Chelsea are protecting a formidable unbeaten run of league matches there.

Arsenal were the last team to take three points there and that was back in 2004 — even before Santini “parked the bus”.

Spurs have Jermaine Jenas and Tom Huddlestone suspended and Didier Zokora at the African Nations Cup, meaning Kevin-Prince Boateng could be drafted into midfield.

Chelsea are also depleted by injuries and unavailability but Ramos is wary of reading too much into Grant’s selection problems.

“We have a similar situation ourselves,” he said. “We have a lot of players out with injury, through the African Nations Cup and sendings off.

“The season is long and sometimes situations are favourable to one team or another, but I don’t think there is a best time to play Chelsea.”

Radek Cerny replaced Robinson in goal against Arsenal but the Czech Republic goalkeeper does not feel he has a long-term future at Spurs.

“In my experience, if a club do not extend your contract six months before it expires, they are not interested,” Cerny said.