As manager prepares his team for a make-or-break game at the CBS Arena, Michael Carrick insists Middlesbrough’s season “isn’t done by any stretch”. The Boro manager refuses to give up on a play-off spot and claims he’ll treat the Championship shootout against Coventry City like a cup final.
After his side could only manage a draw with Norwich City at the Riverside on Saturday, they now need to face sixth-placed Sky Blues on Saturday and hope both Millwall and Blackburn fail to win against Burnley and Sheffield United.
Boro have won only one of their past five games, and Carrick confessed he was “bitterly disappointed” following Saturday’s draw, but he is certain his players will pick themselves up and be ready for this weekend’s decider.
“We’ll be lifted, don’t worry about that,” Boro’s manager told the Northern Echo.
“It’s understandable to be disappointed, but there is still a lot at risk. The season is far from over, and there is still much to play for.
“It’s a one-off game, and we need to win. We’ll approach it in the way that we believe will give us the best chance of succeeding.” Boro, like Coventry in recent weeks, have squandered numerous opportunities to strengthen their position. Frank Lampard’s side has lost five of its last nine league games. Carrick believes his team must now put past disappointments behind them and focus solely on their final chance to secure a play-off spot.
He stated: “The final day of the season can accomplish a variety of things. Anything is still possible.
“We can’t go there and expect nothing to happen. We must persevere in our belief that it is possible. At the absolute least, we go there to win the game, and we can only hope that it is enough on the day.
“If we win the game, who knows? We must maintain an optimistic attitude heading into next week. It’s difficult right now because we’re all disappointed, but we’ll be ready for the game by the end of this week’s training.
“We have to recognise that on the final day of the season, and I’ve been a part of them, things happen. We need to win it to give ourselves the best chance. Finally, you are either good enough to go there or not.
Next week, we’ll see where we are. It’s one game. There is only one final now. The slate must be wiped clean, and all attention must be focused on this one-off game. Nothing else matters. To be honest, everything else goes out the window when there is so much emotion in the stadium and so much at stake.
“Now that other teams are in it as well, we just happen to be playing each other. We just need to do everything we can.”
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