Skip to content

FA Cup: Aitor Karanka wants Middlesbrough to repeat Anfield performance at Man City

Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka
Image: Aitor Karanka: Message to Middlesbrough players

Aitor Karanka hopes Middlesbrough's players can draw on their experience of playing at Anfield when they travel to Manchester City in the FA Cup.

A trip to the home of the Premier League champions sounds a daunting proposition, but Boro showed in September that they are capable of holding their own against top-flight opposition when they pushed Liverpool all the way to penalties in the Capital One Cup.

It was 1-1 after 90 minutes at Anfield and 2-2 following 30 minutes of extra-time, as Patrick Bamford's 120th-minute penalty set up a shoot-out which Liverpool eventually won 14-13.

Karanka's men received plenty of plaudits for their performance against the Reds and the Spaniard hopes that experience will stand Boro in good stead when they travel to the Etihad.

"The best thing we can take from the Liverpool game is the personality we had," said Karanka.

"We played in Anfield and played against them face to face and that's the important thing on Saturday.

"I want us to finish the game on Saturday in the same way we finished against Liverpool - where everyone who watched the game thinks about how good a team Middlesbrough are.

More from Fa Cup Fourth Round 2014

"There's a big difference between us and Manchester City, but football is football.

"I know it's going to be a difficult game but we're preparing to fight face to face with them in the same way that we did against Liverpool.

"For us it's a difficult test against one of the best squads not only in the Premier League but the world. They have amazing number of players, have a good coach and it will be very difficult for us.

"The normal thing would be for us to lose the game but I'm not here to prepare the team to lose."

Boro head into the fourth-round tie second in the Sky Bet Championship table and looking in good shape to maintain their promotion challenge for the second half of the campaign.

Karanka hopes trips such as this to the Etihad will be common place for him and his players - and the club's supporters - next season.

He said: "It's good for the players to show everyone that we're doing really well in the Championship but we can play against the top teams, too.

"I'm very proud of our fans and I want to tell them that this game is a game that they have to enjoy.

"For them, all of us, it's good to remember these games against City and Liverpool and other big teams and I hope we can play there again as soon as possible."

Defender Tomas Kalas is Karanka's only fresh doubt ahead of the game.

The 21-year-old Czech Republic international, who is on loan from Chelsea, took a kick to the ankle during Tuesday night's league victory over Cardiff and is being assessed.

Former England defender Jonathan Woodgate was an unused substitute against the Bluebirds and is in contention for just his second senior appearance of the season at the Etihad.

Around Sky