Middlesbrough star Tuncay Sanli is convinced that the club can finish in the top-half of the Premier League this season.
Boro ace wants top-half finish
Middlesbrough star Tuncay Sanli is convinced that the club can finish in the top-half of the Premier League this season.
The Turkish forward, who has become a huge fans favourite since his move form Fenerbahce last year, is confident he can help his new team to a top-ten finish.
Boro have finished in the top-half of the Premier League just twice, and never under Gareth Southgate - but Tuncay thinks that can change this season.
"It's still early days to make such important predictions, but as a whole team our morale is great," said the 26-year-old.
"I'm extremely happy to be here and I do believe this is going to be a different season for us.
"Although we had a few bad matches at the beginning of the season, I'm sure we will perform better.
"The players really want to do well for the team. They are very determined as individuals and as a whole team and I'm sure we are going to progress.
"If I hadn't seen it for myself, I wouldn't say so - I genuinely believe we are making progress.
"Since the Chelsea defeat, we have gained five points in the next three games, which is the biggest indication of how determined our players were.
"It's not just my opinion - our manager and the rest of our players themselves genuinely do believe we will take our place in the top-ten this year."
Tuncay insists that the spirit within the Boro squad is key to their hopes of success.
"To me, having star players in the team means very little and is not the important thing in performances.
"The team has to be like a family. If you are not close to each other, you are bound to be a failure.
"This is a fact, just talking from my personal experiences - if the team's players don't get close to each other and they don't see each other like family members, I don't think you stand a chance of being a successful club."
