Michael Carrick has challenged Middlesbrough’s players to recapture the spirit of 2004 as they prepare to face Chelsea at the Riverside in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg on Tuesday night.
Middlesbrough’s manager hopes his young Championship team can ultimately emulate Juninho, Boudewijn Zenden, Joseph Desire-Job, Gareth Southgate and the rest of the club’s famous League Cup-winning side by repeating that feat. Carrick knows it will not be easy for his talented, yet inconsistent players, especially against Mauricio Pochettino’s fast-improving Chelsea.
“Consistency’s the magic ingredient,” the former Manchester United and England midfielder said. “We’ve shown what we’re capable of in little spells. Put all that together and it brings success in the end. The pleasing thing is we know what’s in the tank, what we can do, so that’s really encouraging. This is a whole new challenge but we’ve got reason to go into the game incredibly positive.”
Twenty years ago Steve McClaren led Boro to their first major trophy, courtesy of a 2-1 win against Bolton at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. “It feels a long time ago but it was a major part of the history of the club and a massive success,” said Carrick, who was a West Ham player at the time. “So I’m fully aware of what that means to the supporters and so many people connected to this club.
“I remember Juninho and Gareth were playing. I’ve seen the pictures up here. That’s the impact football can have, you can create special, special memories and special days for people.”
“Tomorrow’s an unbelievable opportunity,” Carrick said. “It’s a huge, huge day for us. There’s a freshness about it. I can feel it around the players the club and the town. Hopefully it’ll be a special night, we’ll enjoy it and embrace it. But we mustn’t get carried away just yet.”
At United, Carrick won the competition three times but, in his first managerial posting, the 42-year-old does not measure success solely in terms of triumphs. “There are ways to lose,” said a coach debating whether to start Josh Coburn or Emmanuel Latte Lath as his principal striker. “Sometimes I’ve been ultra positive after a loss. Results aren’t the be all and end all when you’re trying to achieve something over time. You have to put the foundations in place.”
Although Boro are 12th in the second tier, they are only four points off a playoff place and Carrick remains hopeful that, despite losing two outstanding second-tier forwards in Chuba Akpom and Cameron Archer last summer, he can better last season’s semi-final playoff exit this spring. “Even when you aren’t getting results you can be performing really well, feel good and know it’s coming right,” he said. “There are always ups and downs but it’s about sticking to your beliefs and principles.”
Whereas some managers become polar opposites of their playing personas, Carrick, whose side suffered a narrow 1-0 FA Cup third-round loss to Aston Villa on Saturday, is as measured and well-calibrated in the technical area as he was pulling the midfield strings. “I enjoy playing football a certain way,” he said. “I’m not about formations, particularly. You have to express yourself, players have to try things.”
Carrick is without 12 injured, suspended or unavailable senior professionals for the visit of Chelsea and must once again cope without his impressive goalkeeper Seny Dieng, leaving the promising Australian Tom Glover to deputise while the Senegalese Dieng is at the Africa Cup of Nations.
“I see this job as a really big challenge but I’m enjoying it,” the manager said. “I love trying to see how successful we can become.”
