Gareth Southgate: "Pressure is what you put on yourself. I don't concern myself with external pressures.Southgate Knows He Has To Follow Standards Set By Others!
Gareth Southgate: "Pressure is what you put on yourself. I don't concern myself with external pressures."There is always an expectation from the chairman of any club, just as there is from the fans.
"But I think there is also a sense of realism at this club and what we can achieve with the funds we have.
"If we were not doing our job properly behind the scenes then questions would be asked.
"But we are working hard to reduce our costs while at the same time keeping the players motivated and working towards winning games.
"It's a difficult situation. We were very disappointed to lose on Saturday in the manner we did, but we don't slip into gloom and despondency.
"We can't afford to do that. We have to stay upbeat, analyse what went wrong and concentrate on doing things right in the next game.
"What we have to remember is that if we had taken a positive result at Fulham then we would be in the top half, with a brighter outlook.
"One result can make such a difference in this league.
"Our target has not changed. We are still aiming for the top ten.
"We know how difficult that can be. Bryan Robson and Steve McClaren both achieved it just once during their time here.
"That's the level the club has been at for a long time and we fully understand how long it takes to change things and make progress.
"But the league table is very tight at the moment and we must try to take advantage.
"People say there is a risk of fighting relegation but relegation battles don't start until six or seven games before the end of a season.
"In the last two seasons we have won the penultimate game to make ourselves mathematically safe.
"We know all about that and we are trying to improve. We are demanding more from everybody."
PREMIER LEAGUE HOLIDAY FIXTURES:
Friday 26th December 2008
Aston Villa v Arsenal 17.15
Chelsea v West Brom 13.00
Liverpool v Bolton 15.00
Man City v Hull City 15.00
Middlesbrough v Everton 15.00
Portsmouth v West Ham 13.00
Stoke City v Man Utd 12.45
Sunderland v Blackburn 15.00
Tottenham v Fulham 13.00
Wigan Athletic v Newcastle 15.00
Sunday 28th December 2008
Arsenal v Portsmouth 14.00
Blackburn v Man City 16.15
Bolton v Wigan Athletic 14.00
Everton v Sunderland 14.00
Fulham v Chelsea 14.00
Newcastle v Liverpool 12.00
West Brom v Tottenham 14.00
West Ham v Stoke City 14.00
Monday 29th December 2008
Man Utd v Middlesbrough 20.00
Tuesday 30th December 2008
Hull City v Aston Villa 20.00