Juande Ramos is certain Tottenham will revive their season with UEFA Cup victory against Wisla Krakow and that critics will be soon be calling him "king" again.
Ramos has overseen Spurs' worst league start for 53 years and failing to defend their 2-1 lead over the Polish champions would increase the spotlight on the head coach, although he insists he has previously been under greater scrutiny.
The Spaniard was hailed for winning the Carling Cup in February but Spurs have won just three times in the Premier League since, with fans turning on him during the defeat to Portsmouth at the weekend.
Ramos, however, said: "In Spain I think the pressure is more because in England I only have to face the media once a week. In Spain it is every day. I am very happy here because of that!
"I know my job and this situation is normal in football. I have been a coach for 20 years and it has always been the same. When you win you are the king and when you lose you are the worst.
"This is my job. I understand the situation, I understand the fans and the media. I am sure that if we win in the next two or three weeks it will be 'Ramos is the best in the world'. This is the nature of football."
Despite showing his usual coolness at Stadion Wisly, Ramos admitted defeat in Krakow would be disastrous.
"It would be a disaster for Tottenham to be knocked out of European competition," said the head coach. "We want to win the UEFA Cup, but football is football.
"I don't think it would be an empty season for us if we are knocked out, however. We want win but we are also in the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Carling Cup."
Midfielder David Bentley led the rallying call among players determined to kick-start Spurs' season.
"It will be difficult but we believe in our ability as well," said Bentley. "Hopefully our heads will be right and we can get the result we need.
"It was a difficult place to go when I was with Blackburn, but enjoyable at the same time, and I'm sure if we're strong enough and have the will to win, we'll do that.
"It will be a great atmosphere and I guess if you can't get up for playing in a game like this, you can't get up for anything."
Ramos will be without ineligible pair Roman Pavlyuchenko and Vedran Corluka, while Alan Hutton is out with a foot injury.
Left-back Gareth Bale also has a foot complaint but has travelled and trained, with a late decision set to be made on whether he will play.
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Comment 1 - 4 of 4
J Ramos = P45 and all the other losers in Tottenham shirts!
Sacking Ramos is not the answer regardless of the results. Spurs have seen enough managers come and go over the lasts few years. Give him until the end of the season anyway. The team he has assembled is very good but also young squad. A new manager would just pereptuate a cycle that has plague Spurs for years. Keane and Berba were on fire last season and losing them was a real blow.
I say... Give team time to find the form they had in pre season, see who he buys in tranfer window and wait until they are out of all cup competitions before chopping his head off.
i tot martin jol the one winning the uefa cup not him
Only 3 wins in the next 3 games is good enough,This team has to start fighting for the club!
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