Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka has explained the impact that Jose Mourinho has had on his career as a manager.

The Boro coach takes his charges to Wembley this afternoon to meet Norwich City in the Championship playoff final, and after working under Mourinho at Real Madrid, Karanka said that he learned the importance of trusting his players from the Chelsea manager.

"I spent three seasons with Jose Mourinho before I was called [to Middlesbrough]. I've been lucky because I've have had Jupp Heynckes and Vicente del Bosque as managers, and Mourinho is the best in the world," Karanka told Sky Sports News.

"It was amazing to work with all of them. You have to be honest [with the players]. I tell my players the truth and I have a good relationship with them because they do too. I saw how that works with Jose and the players trust you.

"I was working in the Spanish federation with Fernando Hierro and he called me and told me that Jose Mourinho wanted me at Real Madrid. I thought it was a joke at first. He said that he wants to come [to see the playoff final] but he also said that he could be a jinx. I would love to be a manager in the Premier League."

Boro beat Brentford in the semi-final stage to set up the meeting with the Canaries at Wembley.