Source: Daily_Mail
Horrified Mendieta remains bitter at Middlesbrough booze-up
Former Middlesbrough midfielder Gaizka Mendieta has claimed the club has been brought to its knees by a culture of boozing and penny-pinching.[LNB]The Spaniard, who was capped 40 times and retired last year after five seasons on Teesside, also accused former manager Gareth Southgate of keeping him in the dark.[LNB]The midfielder signed from Lazio in 2003 and helped Boro lift their first-ever trophy a year later when they won the Carling Cup. But the 35-year-old is horrified at the club's slump into the Championship, and he vented his anger in a Madrid newspaper.[LNB] Accuser: Gaizka Mendieta, now retired, claims Boro had a shocking booze culture[LNB]'At Middlesbrough the beer used to flow in the dressing-room the moment matches were over,' he said.[LNB] Stoke City striker Kitson joins Middlesbrough on two-month loan Bruce lines up £5m switch to take Boro defender Wheater to SunderlandEXCLUSIVE: Steve McClaren is back: Former England manager rebuilds his career in Holland 'The following day the players were supposed to work on their recovery but instead they'd just have a coffee and then get back on the booze once more.[LNB]'They used to eat Mars bars and chocolates, and when I said something about it they'd fire back, claiming it was to give them energy.[LNB]Accused: Mendieta blames former boss Southgate[LNB]'You could say that there was a clash of attitudes between me and them.[LNB]'My first two or three years at the club were very good. We won a trophy and got to the UEFA Cup final. But everything went wrong once Steve McClaren left and Gareth Southgate replaced him as manager.[LNB]'We had played together and got on well, but suddenly he told me I was not part of his plans.[LNB]'The one thing I reproach him for is the fact that he was never honest with me. The club wanted to go in the direction of using youngsters, and get rid of a handful of players.[LNB]'I had offers to join clubs in Spain and England on loan. But I did not want to go away for six months, only to find myself in the same situation once more.'[LNB] Stoke City striker Kitson joins Middlesbrough on two-month loan Bruce lines up £5m switch to take Boro defender Wheater to SunderlandEXCLUSIVE: Steve McClaren is back: Former England manager rebuilds his career in Holland [LNB]
