Afonso Alves believes Middlesbrough can realistically target a
European place next season, and intends to help them achieve
that objective with his own goalscoring contribution.
The Brazilian is impatient for the new seasion to start, having
settled in after arriving from Heerenveen in the January transfer
window and taken several games to acclimatise.
Now he is looking forward to embarking on his first full campaign
in the English Premier League, on the back of six goals in the
final six games of last season.
With his sights on European qualification, he told Teesside's
Evening Gazette: "I know I will score goals. I can’t say how many,
but I am sure the goals are going to happen. That is what I do
best."
Alves scored 17 goals in 14 starts in the Dutch and English Leagues
combined last season.
“When I first moved to Boro I hadn’t played for many weeks so it
took me time to settle and I had to build my fitness. But when I
settled down, the goals came.
“Last season was a little bit difficult, not only for me but for
the whole team,” he added.
“I will be much better in the new season and I’m sure the team will
be too.
“The club has been in the Uefa Cup and done great things already
and last season I think you could see that we could be good enough
to qualify for Europe if we had more consistency.
“From the away match at Arsenal through to the end of the season I
think we played well. We improved as a team and I think we will get
better again and can push towards the top six.”