The death of steel-making in Redcar means this winter threatens to be unusually dark on Teesside and the responsibility resting on Aitor Karanka’s shoulders is even greater than expected.
Middlesbrough's manager is on a mission to help assuage a little of the local pain by returning the town's football club to national prominence. If that can be best achieved by securing promotion to the Premier League next spring, a strong performance in the League Cup at Manchester United on Wednesday night would remind everyone that a much underrated area still has something to shout about.
Middlesbrough’s away support is arguably the best in the Championship and it comes as no surprise to learn 10,000 fans are expected to make the trek across the Pennines to Old Trafford.
“Our supporters deserve these games,” said Karanka, previously José Mourinho’s assistant at Real Madrid. “I want to express my gratitude because they’re always with us, at Old Trafford, in Cardiff last week and at Blackpool last season.
“I’m really proud of them and hopefully we can show them a good performance.
“The game against Manchester United is special. The players don’t need extra motivation because to play against United is motivation enough. Everyone wants to play.”
His words may sound a little like typical manager platitudes but Karanka has developed an affinity with Teesside and its inhabitants and the Spaniard often likens his adopted habitat to his native Basque country.
That heritage ensures Karanka is not a coach to shy away from confrontation. Although now healed, an early-season rift with his key winger Albert Adomah (prevented from travelling to United by an ankle injury) and a willingness to demote Stewart Downing, Boro's star summer signing, to the bench last week emphasises the 42-year-old's steely side.
Considering the former Spain and Real Madrid centre-half regards not only Mourinho but Louis van Gaal as key mentors his way of working should not come as a surprise.
While Mourinho is a close friend – he and Karanka have been sharing lengthy phone calls in recent weeks – Van Gaal’s influence has been from a distance. Even so, Boro’s manager cites it as surprisingly powerful.
“I played against Van Gaal’s team when he was at Barcelona and José was his assistant,” he said. “He’s an interesting coach and he’s particularly interesting for me because I have learned with José and José learned from Van Gaal. I took the lessons from José so I feel I have learned from Van Gaal too.”
If there can be no doubt Karanka’s priority is ensuring his fourth-placed side escape the Championship, his fierce pride will ensure he endeavours to replicate the success of Boro’s last trip to Manchester.
In January they shocked Manchester City with a 2-0 win in the FA Cup and a reprise of that result at Old Trafford would do Karanka's reputation no harm. "I'll put out my best XI to try to beat them," said the manager, who may give Bruno Zuculini, an Argentina youth midfielder borrowed from City, his debut. "But Manchester United can change games in one second. They're very quick in the transitions so we have to be very careful. Their squad is amazing."
(Guardian service)
