YIDDO
11-02-2008, 13:31
A interesting interview
Tottenham Hotspur youngster Lukas Pekhart has revealed conflict between coach Juande Ramos and goalkeeper Paul Robinson, and detailed the changes that have turned the club's fortunes around.
The young Czech striker credited extra training and an improved diet for increasing the players' fitness levels, but also claimed that Ramos rarely speaks English.
He also said that Robinson refused to warm up with the team on being dropped for Pakhart's countryman Radek Cerny, provoking a rift between him and Ramos.
Tottenham have improved a lot under Juande Ramos. Why?
When he came, he told us in the dressing room that we were fat and that was the reason we were losing games in the last few minutes. He also wanted us to improve our fitness; that is why he changed the training. We started doing two training sessions a day and sometimes even extra jogging at the end. And, after every session we were weighed. Our eating habits have changed. It was not that strict under Mr [Martin] Jol. It was not that you could eat anything, but there were meals that were not exactly suited for sportsmen. Nowadays you can order vegetables, pasta, fish and chicken - and that is all. We drink water with lemon. Ramos is very strict and particular about discipline.
Has anyone complained about the changes?
No-one has dared to and, moreover, the coach only speaks Spanish. It is Gus Poyet who communicates in English. Nevertheless, Mr Ramos has tried to explain something in English a few times.
Did you have problems with your weight?
No, I was within the limit. I did not have much trouble with the changes as my agent Mr Paska warned me it would same as at Liverpool when Rafael Benitez came there. Spaniards are very strict about this.
Juande Ramos won two UEFA Cup trophies with Sevilla, does it give extra confidence to the Spurs players?
That is why they appointed him, he is experienced at winning trophies. And Tottenham want to be winning them. In the Carling Cup we are one step away from winning the first one and in the UEFA Cup we are on the right track.
What do you think of the fact that Radek Cerny has become first-choice goalkeeper for Juande Ramos over the last weeks?
We speak with each other every day. Radek is happy, he is enjoying every game and I feel happy for him. He did not get many chances before, but I know that the guys have been saying in training that he was making some unbelievable saves at times. I wish him well.
Paul Robinson, when sitting on the bench and watching the game, gives the impression of being a very angry man. It is like he does not care about the result. Is it just a fantasy or is it true?
Most recently it has been true. When the coach put him on the bench for the first time, against Arsenal, he did not even go to the warm-up which made the coach even more angry.
"When he came, he told us in the dressing room that we were fat" :hahaha:
Tottenham Hotspur youngster Lukas Pekhart has revealed conflict between coach Juande Ramos and goalkeeper Paul Robinson, and detailed the changes that have turned the club's fortunes around.
The young Czech striker credited extra training and an improved diet for increasing the players' fitness levels, but also claimed that Ramos rarely speaks English.
He also said that Robinson refused to warm up with the team on being dropped for Pakhart's countryman Radek Cerny, provoking a rift between him and Ramos.
Tottenham have improved a lot under Juande Ramos. Why?
When he came, he told us in the dressing room that we were fat and that was the reason we were losing games in the last few minutes. He also wanted us to improve our fitness; that is why he changed the training. We started doing two training sessions a day and sometimes even extra jogging at the end. And, after every session we were weighed. Our eating habits have changed. It was not that strict under Mr [Martin] Jol. It was not that you could eat anything, but there were meals that were not exactly suited for sportsmen. Nowadays you can order vegetables, pasta, fish and chicken - and that is all. We drink water with lemon. Ramos is very strict and particular about discipline.
Has anyone complained about the changes?
No-one has dared to and, moreover, the coach only speaks Spanish. It is Gus Poyet who communicates in English. Nevertheless, Mr Ramos has tried to explain something in English a few times.
Did you have problems with your weight?
No, I was within the limit. I did not have much trouble with the changes as my agent Mr Paska warned me it would same as at Liverpool when Rafael Benitez came there. Spaniards are very strict about this.
Juande Ramos won two UEFA Cup trophies with Sevilla, does it give extra confidence to the Spurs players?
That is why they appointed him, he is experienced at winning trophies. And Tottenham want to be winning them. In the Carling Cup we are one step away from winning the first one and in the UEFA Cup we are on the right track.
What do you think of the fact that Radek Cerny has become first-choice goalkeeper for Juande Ramos over the last weeks?
We speak with each other every day. Radek is happy, he is enjoying every game and I feel happy for him. He did not get many chances before, but I know that the guys have been saying in training that he was making some unbelievable saves at times. I wish him well.
Paul Robinson, when sitting on the bench and watching the game, gives the impression of being a very angry man. It is like he does not care about the result. Is it just a fantasy or is it true?
Most recently it has been true. When the coach put him on the bench for the first time, against Arsenal, he did not even go to the warm-up which made the coach even more angry.
"When he came, he told us in the dressing room that we were fat" :hahaha: