Tottenham fitness coach Marcos Alvarez believes the key to Juande Ramos' success is understanding the mentality of the players at his disposal.

Ramos brought Alvarez with him from Sevilla to Spurs to get his squad fitter, and the Carling Cup was secured within four months of his appointment, ending the club's nine-year trophy drought.

Changing training regimes and diets has been accepted as a huge part of Ramos' impact at White Hart Lane, but Alvarez also feels the man-management skills of the Spaniard has been a factor.

Naming his team just a few hours before kick-off - which players have had to get used to - is all part of the way he manages his squad.

"He came with his philosophy - to play a quick, passing game with wingers, but compact," said Alvarez on Revista De La Liga on Sky Sports. "He brought with him the way he played in Spain. His philosophy is to attack, to keep moving forward with the ball.

"But the main reason he is a top manager is because he understands very well the mentality of the players. He tries not to speak a lot, but when speaks he speaks very clearly. That is the most important thing."