Ramos seeks European relief
Spurs start their European campaign with a Group D clash against Udinese (kick-off 6.10pm), who are flying high in second place in Serie A, but Sunday’s league clash against Bolton has been viewed by most as more important.
“Both competitions are important,” insisted Ramos. “The most important is the UEFA Cup because this is our next game.
“On Friday, the most important is the Premier League.”
Spurs’ worst ever start to a season has been complicated by Ledley King’s knee injury which means the skipper cannot play twice in a week, so Ramos picking his best defender at Stadio Friuli would effectively rule him out for the weekend.
Vedran Corluka cannot deputise in defence as he is cup-tied.
“We only have Jonathan Woodgate and Michael Dawson as alternatives and we need to think in both competitions,” said Ramos.
“Corluka can only play in the Premier League so we have to play him in that competition. On Sunday, if it is possible to play Ledley, he will, but he needs 10 days to recover.”
Roman Pavlyuchenko is also cup-tied. Tom Huddlestone has an injury and has not travelled.
Midfielder David Bentley has given a forthright verdict on Tottenham’s woeful start to the season, admitting he and his team-mates had no idea what they were doing.
“It’s been shocking, it’s been a bit s**t. It’s been a difficult start, especially for me. I wasn’t enjoying it.
“We’ve not been together, we didn’t know where people were running, what people were doing.
“But I think we’re slowly starting to get settled and people are becoming more confident.”
Meanwhile Martin O’Neill is hoping occasions such as tonight’s visit of European giants Ajax (kick-off 8.15pm) will become commonplace during the next few years at Aston Villa. O’Neill said: “Make no mistake, this is a big occasion for us. I am hoping this is the start of some really decent European nights for the foreseeable future at Aston Villa.”
Elsewhere Portsmouth will be without Lassana Diarra (knee) and Younes Kaboul (back) for tonight’s UEFA Cup clash with Sporting Braga in Portugal (kick-off 8.15pm).
Noe Pamarot could keep his place at left-back, leaving either Nadir Belhadj or Armand Traore on the bench.
Braga coach Jorge Jesus is planning an upset.
“We know about Portsmouth. They won the FA Cup and are a very good side, very strong and typically English with a typically English manager in Harry Redknapp,” said Jesus.
UEFA CUP FIXTURES:
Group A: Schalke 04 v Paris Saint Germain; FC Twente v Racing Santander.
Group B: Galatasaray v Olympiakos; Hertha Berlin v Benfica
Group C: Sevilla v Vfb Stuttgart; Partizan Belgrade v Sampdoria
Group D: Udinese v Tottenham; Dinamo Zagreb v NEC Nijmegen
Group E: Heerenveen v AC Milan; Braga v Portsmouth
Group F: MSK Zilina v SV Hamburg; Villa v Ajax
Group G: FC Copenhagen v Saint Etienne; Rosenborg v Club Brugge
Group H: CSKA Moscow v Deportivo La Coruna; Nancy v Feyenoord.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
