By Middlesbrough FC

Michael Carrick has told of the belief in his Boro squad ahead of the Good Friday meeting with Plymouth Argyle.

Boro are aiming to return to winning ways in the 3pm kick-off against an Argyle side battling against relegation.

Here are some of the key points made by Carrick in his pre-match press conference…

ON THE LEAGUE…

We are still in there. Four games feels quite quick and not long left but there is a lot that can go on in that time, especially over this weekend, with two games in four days. A lot can change and it can flip in different directions. Friday is a big game for us and we are focusing on one game at a time, because we know how quickly it can go in different directions.

ON PLYMOUTH ARGYLE…

For us it’s about what we need to do well, and doing more of that. In terms of league position, it is totally irrelevant for us going into this game. The emotion can bring a different side to the game. We have an awful lot to play for and that drive and desire to make it happen for us ourselves, but we totally accept the position Plymouth are in and the emotions they will bring to the game as well. It’s a big part of the game and we have to go through that.

ON BELIEF...

There is definitely belief there. It’s a tough challenge and I think any team in and around us going into this stage of the season faces a tough challenge because it’s tight. We are close enough where we have got an opportunity and it’s realistic, which is a positive. It’s just trying to win games, and we will have a great chance if we win the games ourselves. We understand it’s going to be tough, there is going to be challenges and emotions but that is just normal at this stage of the season.

ON MORGAN WHITTAKER…

You’ve got to be pretty cold about it and take that (emotion) out of it. It’s irrelevant. We’re in it to do a job, and that’s how I always coped with it. You’ve got to pull yourself away from that. It’s always going to be there in the background, and the respect and understanding of what has gone on is always there, but in the moment that’s part of performing and part of that elite performance of having your head in the right place and being cold enough to perform. Morgan did great for Plymouth but he’s here now and hopefully he does well at the weekend. He has settled in really well here and has looked really dangerous in certain games. He’s hugely talented and desperate to learn and improve. However he impacts the game, if it’s in our direction then great. If he gets that goal great, if we win it fantastic.

ON THE FOUR-GAME ‘MINI-SEASON’…

It's game on. We’re here now and this is where we’re at. You’ve got to draw on your experiences of what you can do and how you can perform, and thriving on what’s at stake and being excited by it. There are four games left, it’s a mini-season. One game at a time and that’s it. We’ve been a bit higher in the league at times and a bit lower at times. It’s about now. That is what counts.