Gestede insists self-belief is key to Boro survival bid

Middlesbrough striker Rudy Gestede says self-belief is going to be critical if his side are to pull off an unlikely Premier League survival bid.

Boro sit 19th, six points from safety having not won in their last 14 and their tough run-in will do nothing to ease the pain of the Boro faithful.

Boro’s remaining fixtures include Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool after they host Arsenal on Monday night.

But Gestede thinks that, despite the odds being stacked against them, Boro may be able to escape the drop especially considering Arsenal’s poor form of late.

(Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)

“You have to have this positivity to keep going, every day at training and during the games, otherwise you won’t win anything,” he said.

“I think we’ve all got that same message, the same attitude and mentality.

“We need points to survive – we can’t lie about it. But we are improving very game and we’re not far off.”

“Arsenal have quality in the squad and they are used to playing under pressure.

“We’re talking about internationals all over the pitch – we need to be focused and be ready to step up and show we can play in our way.

“But whether it’s Arsenal, Chelsea at the top of the table or Sunderland at the bottom, we have to take these games as they come and go for the three points.”