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- Jan 13, 2006
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Source: Daily Maybe/Mail
21.12.07
Ramos wanted me at Sevilla - now he's got me and rescued my career, reveals Tottenham youngster.
Kevin-Prince Boateng has thanked Juande Ramos for providing a remedy for both Tottenham's ailing season and his own teething troubles at White Hart Lane.
Two months ago, Spurs were struggling near the bottom of the Premier League under manager Martin Jol and Boateng was playing in front of a few hundred fans in the reserves.
Both situations came as a massive shock to the 20-year-old, who joined for £5.4m from Hertha Berlin in the summer after starring for the German club in the Bundesliga. He had been hoping the move to White Hart Lane would secure him Champions League football and even help win international honours.
With a German mother and Ghanaian father, Boateng has dual nationality, although he has represented Germany at both youth and under-21 level.
But Boateng struggled to convince Jol he was worthy of a place in the first team and was also shocked that the club were in the bottom four rather than the top four of the Premier League.
Spurs finally took the decision to sack Jol and replace him with Sevilla coach Ramos in October — and since then things have been looking up for Boateng.
He has started three games for the first team, including their last two wins at Portsmouth and Manchester City, and helped the club climb to 12th in the table. They are also in the Carling Cup semi-finals and have reached the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup.
He is expected to start his first north London derby at Arsenal tomorrow and is adamant Arsene Wenger's side will face a much tougher test than when they beat Spurs 3-1 in September — due to the Ramos effect. He said: "We are a lot more together now. We are one big family. It was like that before, but we feel that everyone has to help each other now. Everyone is happy and that is why we win now.
"Juande is a special manager because from the outset everyone knew that he had won the UEFA Cup two times. That means he knows what he is doing.
"He respects every player, even if he is in the reserves or the youth team. Everyone can see this.
"It doesn't matter if it is the biggest name like Dimitar Berbatov or a youth player, the one who plays the best on the training pitch will play. The training is different. I feel fitter than ever, more than I ever was at Hertha Berlin."
Boateng may have arrived while Jol was in charge of the club, but he enjoys a much better relationship with Ramos.
It helps that the 53-year-old had been following his progress since he was 14 and in the Hertha Berlin youth set-up.
Ramos also tried to sign him when he was still in charge at Sevilla and that encouraged Boateng when his appointment was confirmed.
He added: "It gave me a boost because while I respected Martin, I knew that I had a new opportunity. The manager already knew what I could do and liked me so it was a bit easier.
"One of the first things he asked me when he arrived was why I hadn't wanted to go to Sevilla! He had been scouting me since I was young and that is why he knew how good a player I was.
"I knew when I came here that I wasn't going to be the big star and that I would have to work hard to get in the team.
"It was difficult because I wasn't used to playing for the reserves. But I am happy now because Ramos has given me the chance to show people what I can do."
Boateng is now desperate to show that Arsenal aren't the only team in England possessing promising young talent.
"All everyone talks about is Arsenal's young players, but we have some great talent here, too," he said. "We have young players playing good games, just look at Jamie O'Hara who has come on in the last two games and got two assists.
"In Germany I didn't realise how big the rivalry was, but since I came here I have learned how unbelievable it is.
"I don't like Arsenal, although I admire the way they play. The fans really hate each other and it is a big thing for me to beat them because I want to see our supporters smiling."
One player who is unlikely to have a smile on his face is German counterpart Jens Lehmann, who has lost his place in the Arsenal first team to Almunia. But Boateng feels Wenger's decision has handed Spurs an advantage. He said: "He is a great keeper and I am very surprised he is not in the team. At the World Cup last year, everyone saw he was unbelievable."
quality in the making
21.12.07
Ramos wanted me at Sevilla - now he's got me and rescued my career, reveals Tottenham youngster.
Kevin-Prince Boateng has thanked Juande Ramos for providing a remedy for both Tottenham's ailing season and his own teething troubles at White Hart Lane.
Two months ago, Spurs were struggling near the bottom of the Premier League under manager Martin Jol and Boateng was playing in front of a few hundred fans in the reserves.
Both situations came as a massive shock to the 20-year-old, who joined for £5.4m from Hertha Berlin in the summer after starring for the German club in the Bundesliga. He had been hoping the move to White Hart Lane would secure him Champions League football and even help win international honours.
With a German mother and Ghanaian father, Boateng has dual nationality, although he has represented Germany at both youth and under-21 level.
But Boateng struggled to convince Jol he was worthy of a place in the first team and was also shocked that the club were in the bottom four rather than the top four of the Premier League.
Spurs finally took the decision to sack Jol and replace him with Sevilla coach Ramos in October — and since then things have been looking up for Boateng.
He has started three games for the first team, including their last two wins at Portsmouth and Manchester City, and helped the club climb to 12th in the table. They are also in the Carling Cup semi-finals and have reached the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup.
He is expected to start his first north London derby at Arsenal tomorrow and is adamant Arsene Wenger's side will face a much tougher test than when they beat Spurs 3-1 in September — due to the Ramos effect. He said: "We are a lot more together now. We are one big family. It was like that before, but we feel that everyone has to help each other now. Everyone is happy and that is why we win now.
"Juande is a special manager because from the outset everyone knew that he had won the UEFA Cup two times. That means he knows what he is doing.
"He respects every player, even if he is in the reserves or the youth team. Everyone can see this.
"It doesn't matter if it is the biggest name like Dimitar Berbatov or a youth player, the one who plays the best on the training pitch will play. The training is different. I feel fitter than ever, more than I ever was at Hertha Berlin."
Boateng may have arrived while Jol was in charge of the club, but he enjoys a much better relationship with Ramos.
It helps that the 53-year-old had been following his progress since he was 14 and in the Hertha Berlin youth set-up.
Ramos also tried to sign him when he was still in charge at Sevilla and that encouraged Boateng when his appointment was confirmed.
He added: "It gave me a boost because while I respected Martin, I knew that I had a new opportunity. The manager already knew what I could do and liked me so it was a bit easier.
"One of the first things he asked me when he arrived was why I hadn't wanted to go to Sevilla! He had been scouting me since I was young and that is why he knew how good a player I was.
"I knew when I came here that I wasn't going to be the big star and that I would have to work hard to get in the team.
"It was difficult because I wasn't used to playing for the reserves. But I am happy now because Ramos has given me the chance to show people what I can do."
Boateng is now desperate to show that Arsenal aren't the only team in England possessing promising young talent.
"All everyone talks about is Arsenal's young players, but we have some great talent here, too," he said. "We have young players playing good games, just look at Jamie O'Hara who has come on in the last two games and got two assists.
"In Germany I didn't realise how big the rivalry was, but since I came here I have learned how unbelievable it is.
"I don't like Arsenal, although I admire the way they play. The fans really hate each other and it is a big thing for me to beat them because I want to see our supporters smiling."
One player who is unlikely to have a smile on his face is German counterpart Jens Lehmann, who has lost his place in the Arsenal first team to Almunia. But Boateng feels Wenger's decision has handed Spurs an advantage. He said: "He is a great keeper and I am very surprised he is not in the team. At the World Cup last year, everyone saw he was unbelievable."
quality in the making
