Middlesbrough must learn to adapt to life in the Premier League, says Aitor Karanka
Thursday 29 September 2016 14:59, UK
Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka has conceded that his side must learn quickly and concentrate for the full 90 minutes of games if they are to get out of their current rut.
Boro have lost their last three Premier League games and visit a side in similarly struggling form when they travel to the London Stadium to face Slaven Bilic's West Ham on Saturday.
"I think that the position where we are is the position that one month ago I could see Middlesbrough was going to be because with five points the performances need to improve," aid Karanka.
"We are learning but we have to learn quick as the games are coming and we are losing games. I don't and I never want excuses and we have a good opportunity now against West Ham before the international break."
Boro's last two defeats have been to Mauricio Pochettino's unbeaten Spurs and Ronald Koeman's high-flying Everton, but Karanka was quick to point out that though these were not games he was specifically targeting for victory, Boro have to improve if they are to survive.
"I can say that Everton and Tottenham are not in our league, but if we lose all the games against teams which are not in our league then we are going to get relegated so every single game is important for us," Karanka added.
"The starting point this week has to be the second half against Tottenham because we showed everybody that once again we can compete against a team that is playing in the Champions League, unbeaten in the Premier League and was fighting for the title last season.
"We have lost our last three games but our start to the season was really good, so we have to keep calm. We are in a position that is not a concern at all for anybody and we have to keep improving and growing because we have a few players who have Premier League experience."
In the week where Sam Allardyce departed his role as England boss and former Boro skipper Gareth Southgate was given the role on a temporary basis, Karanka wished the former Riverside favourite his best.
"I'm really pleased for him because of his time here as captain and manager and I've been in contact with him since I've been here because we've had players in the U21 international team," said Karanka.
"I'm really pleased because he deserves it and I just hope that he is not just manager for one or two months and he can stay in the job because I have a really good relationship with him."
