Boro have assets to compete, insists Karanka

Middlesbrough mustn’t be overawed when they take on the best teams in the league according to Aitor Karanka, after they showed they could compete with Tottenham last weekend.

Boro eventually went down 2-1 but caused Spurs problems at White Hart Lane, and Karanka believes it’s proof his team can compete with everyone in the league.

And that was a change from earlier in the season when Boro were beaten comfortably at Goodison Park by Everton, and the manager wants his team to show no fear when they take on the league’s best sides as they look to beat the drop in their first season back in the top flight.

(Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)

“I said after the Everton game that they weren’t in our league,” said Karanka, whose side drew away at West Ham on Saturday.

“But we can’t go into games thinking that. We have to try to win as many games as we can.

“When we play in our intensity and style, we were fighting face to face with Everton in the first 30 minutes and with Tottenham in the second half.

“Spurs are a team who are in the Champions League and we showed everybody that we can compete against them. We must go to the pitch and play that way for 90 minutes.”