Source: Northern_Echo
‘Guilty’ Pogatetz keen to show Boro his worth
EMANUEL POGATETZ is hoping to repay a personal debt in the next six months, after admitting to feeling guilty about his inability to contribute to Middlesbrough's survival bid last season.[LNB] Pogatetz suffered a serious knee injury at the start of April that forced him to miss the final seven matches of Boro's unsuccessful attempt to remain in the Premier League.[LNB] The Teessiders were a topflight outfit when he underwent surgery six months ago by the time he returned at the end of last month, they were seventh in the Championship and had sacked their manager, Gareth Southgate.[LNB] As a result, the Austria international admits he has some making up to do as he attempts to steer Boro back into a play-off place following a run of four games without a win.[LNB] I was injured last season and could do nothing about the club getting relegated,[LNB] said Pogatetz, whose comeback has been hampered by the fractured cheekbone he sustained in the recent 1-0 defeat to Plymouth.[LNB] That is the hardest thing, because all you want to do is help, but of course when you are injured you are forgotten about. That is the way it is in football. You want to play, but you can't and that's very tough.[LNB] The injury was hard for me. It happened when I was captain of my country and playing in the Premier League. I come back and have to pick up my position in the national team as well as help get my club back into the Premier League.[LNB] That is tough. I just wish it was different, but now I am focused on getting us back in the top league that has to be the only aim this season.[LNB] Pogatetz might have returned to first-team action sooner had Southgate not been assiduous in guarding against a recurrence of his problems earlier this season.[LNB] The defender was building up his fitness in the reserves when Southgate was dismissed, and admits he was sad to see his former manager go.[LNB] Southgate handed Pogatetz the captain's armband last season one of his proudest moments in football and regularly described the 26- year-old as the best defender at the club.[LNB] But after working under Gordon Strachan for more than a month, Pogatetz feels the Scotsman's disciplinarian streak could be just what Middlesbrough need.[LNB] Gareth will be missed, he said. But we have another manager now and he has his own ideas that you hope brings success to the club.[LNB] The new boss is stricter I think in some ways. Training is very enjoyable, but the atmosphere around the club is definitely more strict.[LNB] He believes footballers only have very short careers, and have to do everything they can to get the most out of themselves by being very professional.[LNB]
