David Bentley laid bare the extent of Tottenham Hotspur’s troubles yesterday by admitting that the team have been tactically inept and were unprepared for the season. The England winger said that it had proved difficult for the team to find their feet, with as many as six new outfield players on the pitch at the same time.

Bentley’s form has been a concern for Juande Ramos, the Tottenham head coach, who is also troubled by problems in his defence. Ramos is preparing to play Ledley King against Udinese in the Uefa Cup group D match this evening, even though there is a risk that the defender will suffer a reaction to his knee injury. Ramos will not play a weakened side at Stadio Friuli, despite his team being bottom of the Barclays Premier League.

Bentley cost an initial £15 million, but has not replicated the attacking form that he showed with Blackburn Rovers. He has not always been a first-choice player under Ramos and even suffered the indignity of being asked to play right back against Hull City this month. “It’s been difficult out on the pitch,” Bentley said. “We’ve not been together. We didn’t know where people were running, what people were doing. It’s been a difficult start. I wasn’t enjoying it. It’s been shocking, it’s been a bit s**t. We are slowly starting to get settled and people are becoming more confident.”

Tottenham’s two victories this season have been in cup matches, but Ramos said that defeat by Udinese could have a severe effect on their confidence. They play Bolton Wanderers on Sunday and Arsenal and Liverpool in the next week.

Ramos was forced to defend himself after Russia complained about Roman Pavlyuchenko being brought on in the 2-1 Barclays Premier League defeat away to Stoke City on Sunday, even though the forward had had only one day’s training and had missed the international matches because of an ankle injury. “He is not in the best condition,” Ramos said. “Yes, he still has a problem.”

Tottenham won this competition in 1984, but these are less than glorious times for the club who will take about 1,000 fans with them to Italy. They will face a drinks ban from 4pm until after the game because of trouble in Udinese’s match against Borussia Dortmund in an earlier round.

Tottenham will be without Pavlyuchenko and Vedran Corluka, who are both cup-tied, while Tom Huddlestone has a knee injury. Alan Hutton, the right back, who has apologised for his tackle that left Thomas Sorensen, the Stoke goalkeeper, needing stitches to a head wound, is expected to play.

Away from the pitch, Tottenham are hoping to unveil plans for a new 60,000-seat stadium to be built next door to White Hart Lane when they release their financial results next week. This precedes the annual meeting, when it is expected that the club will announce that Damien Comolli, the sporting director, is to lose his job.

In Italy tonight, Tottenham may find Udinese’s adventurous, aggressive football a shock to their system. Pasquale Marino, the Udinese coach, employs a 4-3-3 system, with extremely fit players who run directly at the opposition. Gökhan Inler will dictate a pressing tempo in midfield. Udinese are second in Serie A, but Juventus, who beat them 1-0, are the only notable opposition they have faced. They finished seventh in the league last season and reached the Uefa Cup group stage this term by defeating Borussia on penalties.

Marino considers his team favourites. “We are in the best position and that is stimulating,” he said. “We don’t feel the pressure, we want the perfect result, to win. Ramos is the perfect coach, but is not in the best of moments.”

Marino may rest several players ahead of a league match against Roma on Sunday including Fabio Quagliarella and Simone Pepe, two of his three Italy forwards. Antonio Di Natale, the other, is expected to start in a three-pronged attack, alongside Antonio Floro Flores and Alexis Sánchez.

Udinese (possible; 4-3-3): S Handanovic - M Motta, A Coda, M Domizzi, A Lukovic - G Inler, G D'Agostino, M Isla - A Sánchez, A Floro Flores, A Di Natale.
Tottenham Hotspur (probable; 4-5-1): H Gomes - A Hutton, J Woodgate, L King, G Bale - D Bentley, J Jenas, D Zokora, L Modric, A Lennon - D Bent.
Referee: F Brych (Germany).
Television: Live on Five from 6pm (kick-off 6.10pm).