Michael Carrick's promise as Middlesbrough have 'clear focus...

In the 20 crucial Championship games that Boro will play, beginning at Portsmouth, Michael Carrick makes a commitment.

According to Michael Carrick, Middlesbrough will give the Championship run-in their best. He also urged his players

to utilise the possible rewards as motivation for the next 20 games.

Following their FA Cup elimination at the hands of Blackburn Rovers last weekend, Boro is now fully focused on

their league campaign and attempting to solidify their top-six standing in order to have a chance of returning to the

Premier League.

The Boro manager wants his team to improve following a bit of a slump over the festive period, which has seen them

win just one of their past six games. A pivotal phase for Boro and Carrick begins at Portsmouth on Saturday

afternoon, with 20 games left.

With an eye towards the future, the Boro manager stated: “I believe that a season’s dynamics change as you progress

through it, and you finish each chapter as you go along. We are currently at a point when the league is our primary

concern.

By concentrating on just one item, going game by game, and comprehending the implications and stakes, it

simplifies things in many ways. In order to get things going, you must leverage that sensation, emotion, joy, and

excitement. I am quite excited about it since we have everything in front of us and we will give it our all.

We are in a situation where everything is possible right now, so I’m incredibly thrilled about what lies ahead. You try

to put yourself in a position where something is feasible. We must go and take action concerning it.

At this stage, Boro’s destiny is in their own hands. They sit sixth in the league table and now have to ensure they’re

consistent enough to at the very least stay there come May. But that isn’t necessarily something to be celebrated,

with genuine hope coming into the season, ultimately validated by the way the campaign has gone, that a weaker

Championship field in general gave Boro a legitimate opportunity of challenging for automatic promotion.

On their day, Carrick’s side have proven they can be as good as any side in the division, but their trouble has been in

producing their best often enough. Far too common has been dropping points in fixtures like this one at Fratton

Park, where Boro go in as big favourites.

Carrick gave a preview, saying, “They have had some really good results, especially at home.” They make it difficult to

go to and achieve a result, and they have scored four goals a few times this season. We are aware of their preferred

game type and style of play. It is our responsibility to adjust, be adaptable, deal with it, and leave our stamp on it.

It presents a significant obstacle for us. It’s incredibly challenging because of their aggressive, high-energy style of

play. Going there has always been difficult. The stadium’s layout plus the fact that the fans are positioned close to the

pitch make it a really intimate setting, which is the kind I truly adore.

Michael Carrick’s promise as Middlesbrough have ‘clear focus’ ahead of Portsmouth