Stelling blames lack of leadership for Boro’s relegation

A lack of positivity and leadership cost Middlesbrough their Premier League status – that’s the opinion of Sky Sports favourite Jeff Stelling.

Boro finished second-bottom this season – they sacked manager Aitor Karanka in March –and will be plying their trade in the Championship next term.

Gillette Soccer Saturday presenter Stelling thought that the Riverside men did produce some positive displays against the bigger boys in the league but that their lack of positivity under Karanka proved their undoing.

“It’s been a really disappointing season,” said Stelling.

“I thought Boro were well-equipped to stay in the league, even just to finish fourth-bottom –if you look at the likes of Watford, I thought Boro were good enough to compete with them.

“The squad was good enough, but I think the Aitor Karanka reign wasn’t positive enough and that ultimately proved costly.

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

“I watched Boro away at Arsenal [a 0-0 draw on October 22] and they were absolutely brilliant.

“They got that draw at Manchester City [in November] when they played some nice stuff and they ran Man United close at Old Trafford [a 2-1 loss in December], so the capability of the squad was there.

“But I’m not sure the leadership was good enough.”