According to Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick, seeing how the players, the club and its supporters have reacted to the poor league position that they are in has given him even more motivation and encouragement moving forward.
Speaking-via the Middlesbrough FC website-Carrick explained the importance of sticking together through this turbulent (in terms of results) time.
“I’ve spoken a lot about the spirit in the group. It’s easy to say that when things are going well. The energy and the spirit and everyone’s positive when things are going well.” Said the Boro boss.
“It’s the biggest test, it finds us all out, what we are all about when you have a bit of a tough time. If anything, it gives you extra motivation and drive and determination, certainly for the players, in a position like that, you can see their reaction and then on the back of the supporters, to turn up in their numbers and support us the way they have and will continue to do so in the next few weeks, particularly the away games in their numbers, travelling.
Powerful sign
“For me, that’s a really powerful sign that we are reacting in the right way, and we are going about it in the right way, and it takes all of that to come together. When you do come through it, it puts you in a strong position, knowing that you have stuck together when the real character needs to be shown.”
Head coach Carrick has spoken on numerous occasions about the need to ‘stay level’. That goes for winning as well as losing. As a leader, he prefers to approach and analyse situations in a measured and level manner. Not too high, not too low.
His grounded and systematic way of tackling tasks has not deviated since his arrival, and goes some way to keeping his players calm and focused.
“We’ve got to do something about it (results).” Said the measured former Manchester United man.
“But there is a way of assessing that, and you have got to be in the right frame of mind to do that, as well as the players, they have got to be in the right frame of mind to go and perform and suffer set-backs and come back, be able to carry on performing the same way when we have gone a goal up or two goals up or we’ve won a couple of games on the bounce, you have got to stay level, that’s the only way I know really”.
He also made the point that because the poor results are happening at the beginning of the season, they are somewhat skewed in terms of their intensity and impact. Carrick feels that if they were to have a ‘blip’ mid-season, it would not be getting the same attention.
All in it together
The Boro boss also moved to dispel any suggestion of tension between him and Chairman Steve Gibson. Some fans have called into question the relationship between the two, based on the transfer acquisitions this summer. But Carrick has always made clear his admiration and belief in the players he has at the club and he was all smiles as he answered the question of whether he is in contact with Boro supremo Gibson.
“He’s not hiding from me yet. Of course we speak, it’s calm, it’s an understanding of what we’re trying to achieve and how we’re trying to go about it and working together is a part of it. Me, the players, the supporters, the club in general, we’re all in it together. There is no, me or them or the players or the rest. We’re all in it together and we are all fighting for the same thing.
Acknowledging his role in what needs to be done to get back to winning ways, he added, “I’m not one for just accepting when it is not quite going your way, you have got to do something about it and that is my job and my responsibility.”