Boateng: Boro’s poor form is ‘killing’ me

MIDDLESBROUGH skipper George Boateng admits his side’s Premier League struggle is “killing” him.

The 32-year-old Dutchman has enjoyed major highs during his five and a half years at the Riverside Stadium, picking up a Carling Cup winners’ medal in 2004 and reaching the UEFA Cup final two seasons later.

However, the club’s current plight – they slipped into the relegation zone despite drawing 1-1 at Reading last weekend as their wait for a league win was extended to 10 games – is causing him some discomfort.

Boateng said: “I did not come here to play relegation football, if I am really honest with you. I have achieved great things since I have been here. It has always been difficult, the Premier League – this is my 10th season and it’s never been smooth. But to be where we are, it is no over-statement to say it is killing me.

“When I was at Coventry, we had less quality and fewer good players, but through attitude and the right mentality and the manager with his positive approach at that time, we still managed to stay up and had a fine season.

“That’s why I am not so worried, because the squad we have here is much better than the squad I had at Coventry.”

Boateng and his team-mates face a daunting challenge if they are to reverse the recent trend tomorrow with league leaders Arsenal due at the Riverside defending their unbeaten record.

However, whatever the result, the Holland international is confident his side will drag themselves to safety as their injury problems finally start to ease.

Boateng said: “There are several teams who can consider themselves for relegation – Reading, Bolton, Middlesbrough, as funny as it sounds, Tottenham, Birmingham, Derby and Sunderland – they are all there.

“But if I look at all the other teams, I think we have a very good squad. All we need now is a striker to come in and put the ball in the net.

“The rest of the team, if you compare it to the other teams below or just above us, I am more than happy with the squad we have.

“We have not won for 10 games – there have been times where the club has not won for 14 or 15 matches.

“With the right approach and good attitude, because we have good players, it will eventually turn.”

Meanwhile Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger claimed yesterday he had made a “conscious effort” in the past to try to bring English talent to the club – having signed the likes of England internationals Richard Wright and Francis Jeffers, both of whom failed to make the grade at Arsenal.

“I know people will want to see that I play English players,” he said, “but at the end of the day we live in an international world and we respect the rules — English players can go and play where they want, and foreign players can come in and play.

“You cannot want the best league in the world and only play English players. That is not the truth.”

Wenger declared: “When a guy sits in the stands at Arsenal and sees a fantastic cross and a volley, he doesn’t think ‘(Emmanuel) Eboue, where does he come from this guy?’. He either enjoys it or he doesn’t enjoy it.

“At Arsenal that has done a lot for the popularity of the game all over the world.”

Aston Villa have double reason to celebrate after manager Martin O’Neill and forward Gabriel Agbonlahor picked up Barclays Premier League awards for the month of November.