Source: SKY_Sports
Southgate determined to stay
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has again underlined his commitment to remain with the club.
The odds are against the Teesside club as they not only need to win at West Ham, but also need results to go for them elsewhere.
The Boro boss been openly criticised by a growing number of the club's own fans - but Southgate insists he will be resisting the calls for him to quit.
"You become even more determined to try to prove yourself," he said.
"As the manager, inevitably when you have difficult times, you are the one who has to carry the blame.
"The reality is for the club to be in the position we are in, lots of things haven't been right.
"But you then are galvanised to try to put things right, and you also have a better idea of what hasn't worked and what has worked and the reasons I feel we are where we are."
Southgate concedes he has a Championship plan in his mind.
"I have got a very clear picture, whichever division we are in," he continued.
"There are obviously two very different scenarios there in terms of how you would have to play and who would be needed to play and who could take you to where you want to be - I have got a very clear picture in my mind for both of those scenarios."
He admits he has made mistakes this term and would naturally do some things different if given the chance.
"Yes, of course, because otherwise you would be an idiot," he said.
"But hindsight is the key word. We always judge everything with the benefit of hindsight, apart from those who are involved in events as they happen.
"But you have to go through those processes to gain that experience and gain that knowledge.
"We will all do that, everybody at this football club will benefit from that. You never stop learning."
Southgate also reacted to claims that he and his staff do not care as much as the fans.
"I think that's nonsense, I have to say. When I hear people say the players and staff don't care as much as the fans... we have nothing else in our lives, nothing else at all," he opined.
"Our hobby, our love is our work as well, so you live with it 24 hours a day.
"The supporters, they may not like the jobs they do, but they do something else as well. Football is their switch-off, and there is family as well.
"But for players and staff, you live with it all the time, it is constantly in your thoughts.
"Of course, unless you have ever played or coached or managed or been involved in a football club, you won't understand that."
