MICHAEL Carrick told his Middlesbrough’s players to look beyond recent results and remember what they’re capable of after the weekend defeat to Watford in an attempt to build confidence that has been clearly dented by the recent slump.
Carrick’s future is questionable following a run of four consecutive defeats, which has pushed Boro down the Championship table to 11th, four points below the top six.
But the under-fire manager believes Saturday’s second-half performance against the Hornets demonstrated that Boro’s players still have some faith. And he has urged the players to focus on the season’s positives in order to rebuild lost confidence following a run of six defeats in seven games across all competitions.
“I think the players believe they can get out of this, because I don’t think they play like they did in the second half if they don’t,” Carrick remarked during the evening’s match.
“In terms of confidence, these stages can have a significant psychological impact and cause you to become bogged down. “You need to get above the clouds to see clearly.”We are capable, and this is where our belief comes from. We understand what we can do. Unfortunately, sport is not a precise science, and unexpected events can occur. But I believe in those guys, and that is what motivates me to fight for a way out of the current situation.”
Boro have won just three of their previous 15 games, which has clearly had an influence on the squad.
Carrick stated, “That’s the most important thing in sports: maintaining confidence, especially when faced with losses, and how you deal with them.
“Sport is not always straightforward or exact. Emotions, character, and the human aspect all need to be considered and dealt with. That is why certain sports players may be so successful: they can handle it while still producing.
“Even the best of the best have spells where things don’t go their way. When they don’t appear to be the player they are capable of being, you might ask a variety of questions.
“I do not believe any of our sons are any different from that. We’re just going through a tough time. I recognize that it has been going on for too long. We need to snap out of it.”
When asked if his confidence had dipped, Carrick said, “No, not really.” That doesn’t mean I’m doing my job and everything is OK. I am not saying that.
“But I’m constantly thinking about the causes, balancing how much we analyze, how much we go deeper, and how much we question things.
“What should we change? What must remain constant? It becomes more difficult when the results aren’t what we want. But that’s the game, and that’s the obligation I have. I am comfortable with that.”
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