Middlesbrough

Aitor Karanka keen to temper Middlesbrough expectations

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 12 August 2016

Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka dismisses the chance of his side emulating Leicester City's achievements during their first year back in the Premier League.

Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka has warned fans not to expect them to emulate Leicester City's achievements from last season.

The Foxes memorably stormed to the Premier League title during the 2015-16 campaign, just a year after narrowly avoiding relegation back to the Championship.

Boro are back in the top flight after a seven-year absence, and Karanka stressed that simply surviving for a second season will be enough for him.

"We can't make the mistake to think we are Leicester because Leicester won [the title] last season. That doesn't happen often," he told reporters.

"The main aim for us is to stay in the Premier League, to build the conditions to be here a long time because we have been working. It's been really, really tough for the last two-and-a-half years.

"The club has been working for the last seven years, so we need to keep our heads down, we need to know who we are and just focus on the following game."

Boro will begin their campaign at home to Stoke City on Saturday.