Comments from Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick show why he is the right man to finally return the club to the Premier League.
Michael Carrick arrived at the Riverside Stadium in October 2022 following the sacking of Chris Wilder.
Middlesbrough are now preparing for their second full campaign under the former Manchester United midfielder.
Boro are aiming to build on their eighth-place finish from the previous season and make it into the playoffs this time around.
The Teessiders were hampered by injury woes in the 2023/24 but big things are expected of Carrick and his first-team squad this summer.
Steve Gibson has backed his manager well in the transfer market so far, with four new faces already through the door.
Boro have also started pre-season brightly, picking up wins over Bolton Wanderers, Gateshead, and Doncaster Rovers.
The Teessiders have two more fixtures before the 2024/25 Championship season begins, the next being away to Harrogate Town on July 31st.
Michael Carrick comments highlight what he brings to Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough’s latest game was a hectic 5-3 win over Doncaster on Saturday, July 27th.
Hayden Hackney, Finn Azaz, Riley McGree, Emmanuel Latte Lath, and Sonny Finch all got on the scoresheet for the Reds in an action-packed 90 minutes.
Following the game, Carrick was quick to praise his side for their attacking football and expressed his hope that Boro fans will see more of that in the future, as per Teesside Live.
He said: “We planned for that so happy to be here and happy to watch attacking football.
“I hope they [the fans] have more of that, over the time I’ve been here the numbers have been incredible. For a pre-season game it was fantastic to see that and feel that so hopefully they’ll have more to shout about through the season.
“[It has been] So far so good without getting carried away. We’re in a decent place, still a bit of work to do and improvements to do but we’re happy.”
Michael Carrick is providing Middlesbrough something Neil Warnock & co. could not
Middlesbrough last won promotion to the Premier League in 2015/16 under Aitor Karanka.
The Spaniard had a distinct style of play that allowed the Teessiders to be one of the most defensively sound teams in the Championship while still posing an attacking threat.
Karanak was sacked in March of 2017 and Boro were relegated back down to the second division.
Since their return to the Championship, Gibson has struggled to appoint competent managers.
The likes of Neil Warnock, Chris Wilder, and Tony Pulis all failed to implement a concise style of play.
And whatever systems they tried to bring to Boro largely limited individual players and dented the team’s confidence.
Carrick, however, has done the complete opposite since his arrival in the North East.
The midfielder has a clear style – dominating games by building out from the back and maintaining possession.
This system allows Middlesbrough to play in a very attack-minded way, which gets the best out of assets like Hackney, Emmanuel Latte Lath, and Luke Ayling.
Boro fans have been subject to some horrid football over the last eight years but have finally found a manager who is not only willing but wants his side to play on the front foot.
As already mentioned, the last time Middlesbrough had a manager who brought a clear vision to the club, they won promotion.
Carrick is yet to achieve that goal, but with several new signings and their injury list now thin, 2024/25 could be the year Middlesbrough return to the top flight.