The Spaniard is not the sort of coach to take such a performance lying down and would react angrily to any suggestion that his players are taking league matches lightly now that the club have qualified for Europe next season. Those that did not perform against Birmingham will have received short shrift for a man determined that his success in the cups does not come at the price of the clubs domestic form.
In PSV, Ramos faces his toughest test in the competition since he took over at the club. The Dutch side are top the Eredivisie table, six points ahead of rivals Ajax. They beat Swedish side Helsingborg 4-1 on aggregate to advance from the last 32 having dropped into the competition after finishing third in their Champions League group and travel to White Hart Lane a far trickier opponent than Slavia Prague, who we laboured to overcome last month.
Given that Ramos has yet to fully overcome the inconsistency that undermined Martin Jol's start to the season, the match is difficult to call. A lot rests on what side is available to Ramos, who will be without Ledley King due to his persistent knee problems. Stability at the back will be improved by the return of Jonathan Woodgate who returns after missing out on Saturday's drubbing with an ankle injury. The cup hero will be joined in the squad by Brazilian international Gilberto and Michael Dawson who have also recovered from injuries that saw the pair miss out on a place at Wembley.
Whoever lines up in defence tomorrow will face a busy night. PSV have players blessed with pace and technical ability, and the forward thinking Jefferson Farfan has both of these traits in abundance. The Peruvian has 57 goals in just 90 appearances for the club, a startling fact considering that he plays out-wide rather than as an out and out striker. Elsewhere PSV are industrious and well drilled rather than tremendously inventive, although Ibrahim Allefay, who plays on the right side of midfield, and widely regarded as one of the most exciting young players in Dutch football, should be expected to provide his side with a creative outlet.
Although he is no stranger to winning European matches, Ramos could do worse than look to our London rivals Arsenal for inspiration and there result against AC Milan did not go unnoticed in N17. "Arsenal were magnificent and deserved their victory over two legs. But I am not jealous, we played similarly good football in the Carling Cup final," Ramos noted. He will be hoping that his side produce the sort of performance witnessed by the home crowd during the 5-1 defeat of Arsene Wenger's men in January, or during the impressive draw with Manchester United.
Although a lack his sides lack of consistency will have puzzled Ramos, who is bidding to win his third UEFA Cup in a row, he will approach the game against PSV with confidence and a belief that his players have what it takes to perform in the biggest matches. Consistency will come with time and with playing the same back four, week-in, week-out. Ramos and his assistant, Gustavo Poyet, will know want the players to adopt the same positive, forward thinking style that has worked so well against the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal. I'm sure few will disagree that taking a healthy lead to Eindhoven in a weeks time will be vital to our chances of making the quarter-finals.
Ramos is certainly fully aware of the task in front of him. "It's an important test," he said. "PSV are at a high level and this is a barometer of where we can go and if we can compete at that level. Then I will know if my players have the ability for this stage."