Ramos lays down the law at Spurs: We must improve discipline, spirit and fitness

Spurs are languishing in the Premier League relegation zone after conceding injury-time goals in five of 11 games and Ramos, in his first week in charge, suggested a lack of fitness under former manager Martin Jol could be to blame.

"I have a lot of respect for Martin because he had two great seasons, but we will try to do our best to impose our style on this team," Ramos said Tuesday at his first news conference as manager.

"I don't know how Martin used to train ... but when I train with Spurs we will try to create some discipline in the team."

Alongside fitness coach Marcos Alvarez, Ramos gave his players a double training session Monday to start improving their condition and ensure they don't tire and drop more than the six points they already have through late goals.

The last of those came in a 2-1 home loss to Blackburn that Ramos watched from the stands.

If Ramos and his assistants can cut out mistakes such as Sunday's failure to clear a free kick into the area, they will already be a long way toward lifting the team up the standings.

Had it not conceded those late goals, Tottenham would be comfortably in mid table, instead of struggling in 18th place.

"Our main aim is to try and get good results straight away and to try and bring some confidence into the team," Ramos said through a translator. "Once I can identify the depth of the squad, we can try to see what our aims in the long distance will be."

That's very different from preseason optimism that Tottenham was equipped to challenge for a Champions League berth. Despite spending about £40million on new players before last week's decision to fire Jol, the club has had to reassess its targets.

Ramos, Alvarez and former Spurs midfielder Gus Poyet have spent two days assessing the squad ahead of their first game against Blackpool in the League Cup on Wednesday.

"The problem of the team now maybe is more mentality than other things," Alvarez said. "We are working to lift the spirits of the team."

Ramos has only watched the Premier League - never playing or coaching in it - so he is counting on the knowledge he gleaned while guiding Sevilla to victory over Tottenham in last season's UEFA Cup quarterfinals to help him get to know his new players.

And the club's luck could be improving from that which has brought defensive mistakes, slips in concentration, injuries and one win in 11 Premier League matches.

Ramos' first Premier League game on Saturday is against Middlesbrough, a team he beat in the 2006 UEFA Cup final.

Ramos won the UEFA Cup twice with Sevilla, as well as the Spanish Cup, the Spanish Super Cup and the European Super Cup, so his credentials are established. He is also familiar with working under a sporting director, a situation Jol was reportedly unhappy with and which contributed toward his exit.

"He's worked within this structure all his career, so there is no problem," Tottenham sporting director Damien Comolli said. "For me, it's exactly the same as the way I was working with Martin."

Sevilla was unhappy to see Ramos go and chairman Jose Maria del Nido is continuing to threaten Tottenham with legal action, possibly reporting the club to FIFA for an illegal approach for Ramos.

Even without that distraction, the job of replacing the popular Jol could be tough.

Still, the appointment of Poyet as an assistant should secure some goodwill. The former Uruguay midfielder was popular with fans during a three-year spell as a player and, as assistant manager, helped Leeds to 11 wins and two draws in League One this season.

Poyet said he was an admirer of Ramos at Sevilla and dismissed suggestions he had been appointed as little more than a translator.

"I know what English football is about, so I think I am the right person," Poyet said.

After almost 30 minutes speaking in Spanish, Ramos showed he didn't need a translator anyway.

"The players understand me perfectly," Ramos said in English. "I speak with the players in English and they are very happy