Tuesday 9 May 2017 15:31, UK
Middlesbrough captain Ben Gibson has described his side's relegation from the Premier League as "the lowest point of my life".
Boro will return to the Sky Bet Championship next season after just a single campaign in the Premier League following a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea on Monday Night Football.
The side have scored just 26 league goals in what has been a difficult season back in the top flight after seven years away and Gibson, who grew up as a Middlesbrough fan, felt the pain as keenly as any of the travelling supporters at Stamford Bridge.
Asked how much it hurt, he told the club's official website: "I think it's obvious: the worst moment of my career, the lowest point of my life. It's hard to put into words, really. I'm just absolutely devastated.
"Never in a million years when we got promoted this time last year did I think it would come to this. There are obviously loads of reasons. Now is not the time to talk about that. It's too raw, to be honest. I have no doubt that will all come out in the wash, it always does.
"We have got to think about it, process it. It hasn't been good enough, we all know that. It's a hard time and it's hard to think of now, but we have to make sure that we bounce back a lot stronger than we did last time we got relegated."
The central defender has been in fine form throughout the campaign, leading to speculation over his future at the Riverside but he insists the club is all that matters at the moment.
"It's not about me, it never has been. All that matters is this football club," he said. "I have no doubt there will be lots of changes at the football club - there always is - and to be honest, there probably has to be because of the manner of how we have been relegated.
"But as I say, now is not the time to talk about individuals. All that matters is Middlesbrough Football Club - that's all that's ever mattered - and we, everyone connected with it, has let it down. It deserves more."
