Boateng: 'Boro Can't Blame Sunday For Their Troubles'!

Last Updated : 23-May-2009 by
The former Middlesbrough midfielder said: "Newcastle is a huge club.

"With (Alan) Shearer taking over I feel that the press, the country, is desperate for Newcastle to stay up.

"But we are not looking for favours, no one has done us favours anyway.

"We went to Arsenal earlier in the season when the bookies were writing us off and we got a result.

"We should not be in the position we are after the start we had but it is a challenge and we are looking forward to it.

"Sir Alex (Ferguson) has rotated his whole squad over the season and they have won most of the games.

"But I watched the FA Cup semi-final against Everton at Wembley when some of his stars didn't travel, and nobody seemed to complain when Manchester lost.

"The only people who did were the Manchester United fans who wanted to win the FA Cup.

"Why didn't it happen then? That was the same. (Danny) Welbeck was up front and I saw Cristiano (Ronaldo) shopping in the high street.

"No one said anything then so I don't understand the fuss about it now.

"Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough's situations are not because of what happens on Sunday.

"Their situations have been caused by themselves. If any of them go down, it is nothing to do with Sir Alex playing a weakened team or not plg a certain player.

"They have had enough games to win and put themselves in a better position than they are on Sunday."