Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka calls Crystal Palace loss 'a difficult day'
Saturday 25 February 2017 18:48, UK
Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka has called Saturday's 1-0 loss against relegation rivals Crystal Palace loss 'a difficult day'.
Boro continued to struggle in front of goal, and were beaten by a first-half goal from Patrick Van Aanholt to see them remain two places and one point above the drop zone.
The Spanish boss lamented his side's performance in the opening 45 minutes, and questioned if they understood the important of a fixture he had likened to a cup final.
"It was a difficult day for us, especially because I had said I didn't need to say how important the game was to the players beforehand because I thought they knew or they realised how important it was," Karanka told Sky Sports.
"The first half told me that maybe they didn't know because the second half was completely different.
"I had to change the shape yesterday because George Friend had been training with the team all week and when I went to the pitch yesterday, he wasn't there so I had change everything but with the same shape, we were a completely different team in the second half compared to the first."
The Middlesbrough manager was also left disheartened that his side could not find an equaliser after going behind, but said they would keep working to get their season back on track.
"My disappointment is because I am wondering why do we always have to concede a goal or why do we have to do something bad to have a reaction because it has happened a few times this season," Karanka added.
"For example, we played against Man City and Tottenham and in the first half, we didn't play in our style and when they scored their goal, we had a reaction.
"I thought we were going to have a reaction today since the middle of the game but there wasn't so we have to keep working and we will have another chance on Saturday."
