Middlesbrough

Aitor Karanka: 'I never considered leaving Middlesbrough'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 02 February 2017

Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka insists that he never considered leaving his post despite being frustrated by the club's transfer activity.

Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka has insisted that he never considered his position despite enduring a 'frustrating' January transfer window.

Boro brought in Rudy Gestede, Patrick Bamford and Adlene Guedioura last month, but missed out on the likes of Bojan Krkic, Robert Snodgrass and Jese Rodriguez.

Karanka has reportedly had a fractious relationship with the Boro board and his players in the past, and last month also criticised the club's fans, but he insists that he is happy at the Riverside and is confident his side will avoid relegation this season.

"My position? No. I don't know how I can make it clear because always there is something negative about me, my relationship with the players - everybody can see the commitment of the players on the pitch - or that I wanted to leave last season or I had been sacked this season," he told reporters.

"The best reason is that I am here, the team is competing every single game, the team is facing the best teams in the world and we are competing against every single team. We have an amazing challenge to stay in the Premier League and I am sure we will be in the Premier League next season.

"It's normal when you are expecting to sign players and in 24 hours, two or three players you were expecting don't arrive. As a coach, it's impossible to be happy, it's a normal frustration. But the transfer market has finished and always after the transfer window, I say my squad is the best squad in the world."

Boro currently sit 15th in the Premier League table, two points clear of the relegation zone.