Michael Carrick says togetherness will again be vital as Boro aim to continue their good form.
Leeds United are the visitors to the Riverside on Tuesday as the season enters its final stretch.
Here are some of the key points made by the Boro head coach in his pre-match press conference…
ON MOMENTUM…
The boys are playing with confidence. The spirit has always been fantastic, but there’s that spring and that bounce after the results of the last few weeks and we’re looking forward to the next game.
ON LEEDS’ FORM…
It’s similar to what we’ve found ourselves in many ways. It’s a difficult league and you can lose games, but it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s an awful lot wrong. The margins are fine at times, so I’m not reading too much into their recent results. We’re fully expecting their best version. They’ve accumulated an incredible amount of points over the last two seasons and we know what they’re capable of. We have to be ready for that.
ON CONCENTRATING ON OURSELVES…
Our focus is always about us. I had a similar question on Friday ahead of the Blackburn game, and what is happening with the other team or club is not something we focus on. Our concentration is on trying to get into a good position in the game to give ourselves the best possible chance of winning.
ON THE EXPECTED ATMOSPHERE…
I’m really looking forward to being at the Riverside. The boys are playing well and it has all the ingredients to be a good game of football. The players and the supporters will be up for it and it makes for a really good night.
ON USING EMOTIONS…
The game is based on emotion and the passion of winning, and you’ve got to use that. It’s why we all love the game, because it drives you mad at times. For the boys, it’s about playing with passion and emotion, and to be able to control it so you can then perform. You have to get that fine balance. There’s a sweet spot where everything needs to come together. You’ve got to play with that fire, energy, real intensity and drive to win. It’s a massive part of football.
ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FANS…
I’d just ask them to be there with their voices and support us like they have done. We’ve had some really good days and nights recently, and we need a big effort from everyone to pull together to try to get the result we want.