Spurs cashed in on their prized assets last summer, selling Keane to Liverpool and Berbatov to Manchester United.

Ramos, now coach of Real Madrid, feels the club's decision to sell the pair and not bring in adequate replacements was responsible for their woeful start to the season which saw him sacked in October.

Spurs have since brought Keane back to the club, along with Jermain Defoe and Pascal Chimbonda - also sold under Ramos - as they battle for survival.

Ramos told The People: "I'd never have authorised the decision to sell Keane and Berbatov and not replace them with players of similar calibre.

"It was too risky but they paid no attention to me and things turned out badly. That is where my problems at Spurs started.

"Now they have rectified things with the return of Robbie, Chimbonda and Defoe. It has surprised me but it was the normal thing to do to avoid the drop."