Heat is on Ramos in Poland

The Uefa Cup has been Juande Ramos's saviour, but tonight it could be his curse. A tournament that helped him land the job as Tottenham Hotspur coach, could crush him in Poland. Whatever is said, and much is being said back in the British press, about the misfortune that has visited Spurs this season, such goings on cannot continue for much longer. Spurs, who have twice won this tournament, travel to the Polish side Wisla Krakow holding a 2-1 lead. It is a situation made even more precarious by the gloom circling their form in England.

Spurs are bottom of the Premier League table with two points from six games. Ramos won the Uefa Cup with Sevilla in 2006 and his side ousted Spurs on their route to retaining it a year later. The Tottenham captain Ledley King could return, but a grizzled Ramos sounds like a manager who, like his side, is struggling to cope. He said: "[Roman] Pavlyuchenko and [Vedran] Corluka can't play in Europe, Ledley King can't play in every match, Gareth Bale is injured, we have small injuries each week and I need to change three or four players every match."

If Spurs go up in flames, the heat could become unbearable for their Spanish manager. @Email:dkane@thenational.ae