Digard - No regrets

Digard: Confident

I'm enjoying it here. I love Middlesbrough. We have good fans, it's a good city - different to Paris, which is the best in the world.

Didier Digard.
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Didier Digard insists he has no regrets about his move to Middlesbrough despite jumping straight from one relegation battle to another.

Digard was with Paris Saint Germain last season and they only beat the drop by one point.

A summer move to Teesside followed, but Digard again finds himself in a fight to stay in the top-flight.

Despite Boro's troubles, Digard has no regrets over his £4million switch.

"I'm enjoying it here. I love Middlesbrough. We have good fans, it's a good city - different to Paris, which is the best in the world.

"But then English football is the best in the world, so I'm very happy to play here.

"I'm improving with every game, which is normal because it is a different style of football here compared to France.

"In England the football is really fast, whereas in France when we have the ball we have time to turn, to look, and it's easier.

"Last season I also had a big injury, so when I came here it was hard for me at first, but all the players have helped me and now everything is good."

Fight

Digard even says he would not swap life with Boro for playing for French champions Lyon.

"I would prefer to play for Middlesbrough and fight against relegation rather than maybe play for a club like Lyon," he said.

"Yes, they're a great team playing in the Champions League, but if you are playing for them you maybe have two hard games a year.

"But playing here in England, every game is hard; every weekend there is no easy match, so for progress for me, it is much better."

Digard also backed manager Gareth Southgate, who is under severe pressure after the club dropped into the relegation zone on the back of a 13-match winless streak.

"We've no problem with the coach," he said.

"He has the support of the players because he is a good manager, a good man too, and before that he was a good player.

"He understands us, which is good, so everyone supports him.

"Last season I was in a similar situation with PSG.

"Although this is a different club, I know we have the players and staff here to win games."