Ramos (left) admits his team's defeat was a reality check

Tottenham boss Juande Ramos refused to blame new signing Gilberto for the 1-0 Uefa Cup loss to PSV Eindhoven.

Gilberto endured a torrid debut on Thursday, losing the ball for Jefferson Farfan's winner and receiving a caution before being substituted at half-time.

"I didn't substitute him because he made a mistake - it was because he has had a calf injury and has not got his rhythm," said Ramos.

"He needs to play many more games, that's why I took him off."

Gilberto joined Tottenham from Hertha Berlin for a reported �1.9m in January.

The Brazil international's move was initially in doubt because of problems with his medical and injury had prevented him from playing until Thursday's last 16 first-leg tie.

"Every football player makes mistakes," said Ramos.

"What we have to do now is support him and help him to try to recover his best level. We're not going to blame him for the defeat."

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Ramos won the Uefa Cup with Sevilla in 2006 and 2007 but his Tottenham side, which may be without Jermaine Jenas for a spell after the midfielder twisted an ankle, face an uphill task if they are to reach the quarter-finals.

The Spaniard selected his strongest starting line-up against PSV but that could not prevent a second successive defeat since Tottenham's Carling Cup triumph, following on from the 4-1 loss at Birmingham last weekend.

"It's true we had our best starting XI but we still under-performed," Ramos added. "I've been quite disappointed with that.

"We had our best players on the pitch but PSV were the better team.

"You could say it was a reality check, in the matches against Birmingham and PSV we have not played as well as we could have.

"If we want to continue in this competition we have to improve our performances or we will be out."

Spurs first-team coach Gus Poyet insists Tottenham can overturn their deficit in the Philips Stadion on Wednesday 12 March in the second leg.

"It'll be a completely different story over there. We are good enough to go there and win 2-0, no doubt about it," said the Uruguayan.

"PSV were very organised, defended deep and passed the ball well - everything we expected of them - but this tie is not over."