Left-Backs Not Boro Bound
BORO will not be pursuing their interest in trialists Mirko Pieri and Jackson Mendy, who played in last night's 2-0 win at Sachsen Leipzig, writes MIKE McGEARY in Germany.
Italian Pieri, 32, of Livorno, started the game at left-back while Freiburg's 23-year-old French-Senegalese defender Mendy replaced him at half-time.
But manager Gordon Strachan does not see either player as being part of his plans for the coming season.
"We don't think we will be taking ether of them any further," he told mfc.co.uk after the game. "I'll be speaking to these players about it."
Strachan was pleased with the run out the small but well organised German outfit gave his players, who will train this morning for the first time since their arrival.
"We enjoyed it, it was a good game for us and I hope it was a good game for Leipzig as well," he said.
"It's been a hectic 24 hours for us but I thought the game was played in a good spirit, there was tackling but no malice in the tackles, and people tried to play the game the right way."
Sachsen gave Boro a warm welcome off the pitch but it was a friendly game that at times had an unusually physical edge to it, although the aggression was always controlled.
Strachan praised the opponents for providing just the test he was hoping for.
"There were some chances after the first half hour and Leipzig were unlucky they didn't score a goal," he said.
"They had a good shape to them and everyone knew what they were doing. They probably lacked the pace of a top side which is understandable - we lack the pace of a top side as well.
"But the way they tried to play the game was commendable. They were confident and they made it difficult for us. We just maybe had a wee bit more energy towards the end of the game."
Asked by German reporters if there was anything that he felt his team still needed to work on, Strachan replied: "If there's something I don't like, I'll tell them first - you'll be about tenth!
"But I was happy with their attitude, they've been travelling now for about 24 hours and it wasn't easy. There are 10 days to go and then the real football starts."
Meanwhile, the manager revealed that striker Scott McDonald was left out of the squad after having a wisdom tooth removed earlier in the day.
"It was heaven today, with no Scott McDonald moaning and groaning," he joked. "It was a peaceful 24 hours and a wonderful day."
