I was played out of position and it was frustrating - Sunderland new boy Tainio's happy to get away from Tottenham's Ramos revolution

13 April 2012

Teemu Tainio has hit back at Juande Ramos for the way he was treated during his final season at .


Tainio was reduced to a bit-part player following the exit of Martin Jol,  frequently played out of position and quit White Hart Lane last week.

Getting stuck in: Teemu Tainio, pictured above for Spurs in the UEFA Cup, is delighted to have moved to Sunderland (below)

Getting stuck in: Teemu Tainio, pictured above for Spurs in the UEFA Cup, is delighted to have moved to Sunderland (below)

The 28-year-old, who signed a three-year deal to move to after  meeting Roy Keane, said: 'The last year at Spurs was frustrating.

'I was played out of position at left back or right back. I've never played there before.

'The players who had played under Martin Jol suddenly didn't play any more.  There was a feeling that something was going to happen with the changes so  three of us are here now.

'When you've had two fifth places in the league, to then finish 11th is not  what the club wanted and it was a disappointing season. Of course we won the Carling Cup but the club really wanted to be in the Champions League and we didn't do it.

'When I arrived at Spurs three years ago I had a good feeling about how the  club wanted to push on and I get that same feeling at Sunderland now.

'It was really important to get the move here sorted quickly because I knew  that I was going to leave Spurs.

'The momentum is starting to build and you have to take it step by step. We've  made some signings so it's good to have that competition for places to help  push the club forward.'

Tainio, who along with Pascal Chimbonda and Steed Malbranque has moved from  Spurs to Sunderland this summer, impressed Keane with his lack of concern about  leaving London.

'I'm originally from Lapland so I don't really mind where I live, this is warm in comparison to Lapland,' he added. 'You see the training facilities, they're  beautiful, really good. I have a feeling the club wants to go to the next  level. 

'The manager was what I expected when I met him, the thing that strikes you most is his ambition. I never had a chance to play against Roy Keane and that's  a disappointment to me.

'I really think we can do well. When you see 50,000 fans at home games it shows  that this is a massive club but you have to take it step by step. At the moment  we're aiming about mid-table. If we see we're up there though, we're not going  to say no.

'The club's growing and we want to be part of it. I won't comment on Darren  Bent and Younes Kaboul also coming here, it's their choice and down to them.'

Tainio, Malbranque, Chimbonda and El-Hadji Diouf will all make their home  debuts against Ajax at the Stadium of Light tomorrow.

Daryl Murphy meanwhile has agreed a one-year extension to his Sunderland contract.

The Irish forward, signed for £100,000 from Waterford, said: 'I've always wanted to stay and it's pleasing to sign the extension. It's a different  club to the one I joined three years ago and we're going in the right  direction.'


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