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Page last updated at 11:57 GMT, Saturday, 4 July 2009 12:57 UK

Boruc admits to personal problems

Artur Boruc enjoys pre-season training with Celtic this week
Boruc made some high-profile blunders for club and country last season

Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc has admitted that his personal life affected his performances last season.

"Never mind if you are a worker in a factory or you are a goalkeeper playing in front of thousands of people every week," he said.

"If you have personal problems, it will affect you at work."

However, he insisted that his form was not poor - it was just a case of the errors he did make being punished in a way they were not previously.

Boruc made a number of high-profile blunders, most famously when he mis-kicked a pass-back and allowed Northern Ireland to claim a 3-2 win over Poland.

The 29-year also found himself in trouble for breaching disciplinary rules for club and country following the break-up of his marriage.

"I don't accept all this talk that I'm in bad form," he said.

The influence on my performances in the Slovakia and Northern Ireland games was not fans but my personal situation

Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc

"Last season, I made five serious mistakes in games for Poland and Celtic, which is roughly the same as I did the year before.

"But no one said it was my fault then, because those errors went unpunished. A lot comes down to luck - and sometimes your luck runs out."

Boruc was targeted by the Northern Ireland fans at Windsor Park but claims the abuse had nothing to do with him conceding two poor goals.

"My form in the match in Belfast when Poland lost 3-2 to Northern Ireland and the earlier game in Bratislava, when we lost 2-1 to Slovakia, was related to my personal situation," he told the Polish media.

"In Belfast, I wasn't scared of the Northern Ireland fans' taunting. I like pressure. I like when the fans are screaming at me.

"The influence on my performances in the Slovakia and Northern Ireland games was not fans but my personal situation."

New Celtic manager Tony Mowbray has held talks with Boruc, who has extra competition for his place after international team-mate Lukasz Zaluska's arrival on freedom of contract from Dundee United.

Mowbray said: "If Artur has any problems, he needs to tell me. I also spoke to him about his motivational levels.

"He understands he's got to get down to some hard work in pre-season and get focused on the job."



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see also
Woods is new Celtic keeper coach
26 Jun 09 |  Celtic
Boruc dropped from Poland squad
30 Mar 09 |  Celtic
Northern Ireland 3-2 Poland
28 Mar 09 |  Internationals


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