Daily Mirror

A BRAIN TEESER

Monk: We needed to change so much and it’s been very difficult

- BY SIMON BIRD

GARRY MONK admits turning Boro into a force is a bigger job than he thought.

The Middlesbro­ugh coach is under pressure to deliver chairman Steve Gibson’s demand to “smash” the Championsh­ip.

But his team are off the play-off pace and have yet to hit top form despite big investment in the summer.

Monk reckons he inherited deep-rooted problems from the side’s relegation last season.

The squad was split and needed bringing together, and he is trying to play a more fluid attacking style of football.

Last season Boro set up to be hard to beat and to grind their way to safety which ultimately failed.

Monk quit Leeds and then took the Teesside challenge and said: “Coming into the club at the start of the season, it was quite obvious the changing room was a fractured place, confidence was on the floor. Speaking with the owner, it was obvious we had to change that squad and bring in different players to be able to address those things. We did that hugely well.

“But on top of everything else, I’m trying to bring in a new style to the team.

“If anything, it’s been harder for the players that were here before because they’ve spent three years being very well -drilled into playing a certain way.

“I want to play in a completely different style. I want my teams to be more adventurou­s.

“But the players’ commitment to the changes has been excellent. They’ve bought into everything we’re trying to do, and they want to play this way, but it has been difficult. It’s my job to help them and try to make that process easier.”

Monk’s team travel to Sheffield Wednesday, whose midfielder Sam Hutchinson has blamed their Steel City rivals for wrecking their own promotion bid. Sheffield United won 4-2 at Hillsborou­gh in September sparking a collapse which has seen the Owls win just three wins of their last 13 games.

Hutchinson (above), back in the side today after recovering from knee surgery, said: “Sheffield United beating us knocked the boys’ confidence.

“This is the worst season I have had here. We’ve had three months that weren’t very good and had a lot of injuries.”

 ??  ?? PRESSURE Garry Monk has found it tough at Middlesbro­ugh
PRESSURE Garry Monk has found it tough at Middlesbro­ugh
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