Saturday 31 December 2016 18:23, UK
Aitor Karanka says Middlesbrough's late defeat against Manchester United shows his side can compete with anyone in the Premier League.
Two goals in two minutes late on from Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba cancelled out Grant Leadbitter's opener, handing United their fifth straight Premier League win.
And the Spaniard, who has seen his side pick up draws at Arsenal and Manchester City this season, says the experience is vital going forward.
He told Sky Sports: "Again, football is about goals, and we saw it once again that we can compete against every single team. It is amazing.
"I told the players after that we have to forget the result as soon as possible but have to keep the performance, the intensity, the attitude of everybody. Last season we can here in the cup and competed, and again today.
"It's difficult when Man Utd finish the game with players like Ibrahimovic, Martial, Rashford, Mkhitaryan, Mata, Pogba on the pitch. Once again we have shown we can compete against every team.
"We've had a lot of good performances, especially against the top teams, so we just need to keep working in the same way. Playing the way we play against the top teams, we will win games."
Boro sit 16th at the halfway stage of the season, just four above the drop zone, but Karanka insists if his side keep playing with the same intensity and learn from their heartbreak, they will win more games and stay afloat.
"It's not a lesson because I know how important this experience is, when you don't have the quality other teams have, when you haven't been in the Premier League. So to have the experience as soon as possible is the most important thing.
"Now we have 18 points on the table, and with our consistency, our intensity, with that experience we will win more games."
