Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka heaps praise on Pep Guardiola

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The Boro manager will cross swords with the former Barcelona boss for the first time in his managerial career this weekend.

Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka has told the Gazette Live that compatriot Pep Guardiola’s evolving tactics are making league-leaders Manchester City a more dangerous proposition, whilst heaping praise on the former Bayern Munich boss for adapting to the Premier League so swiftly.

Boro will be looking to continue their recent upturn in form when they travel to the Etihad Stadium this weekend for a daunting encounter with Guardiola’s Citizens, who dismantled Barcelona in Tuesday night’s Champions League game, and Karanka is fully aware of the unenviable task that the Teesiders are set to face when they come up against an ‘amazing’ City team.

“(Guardiola) is one of the best coaches, especially after the win over Barcelona, he’s changing,” Karanka told the Gazette Live.

“In the past it was always about possession but in the last game they scored on the counter attack, sometimes they play long balls to Sergio Aguero, and with their players they always have alternatives.

“It’s a nice game for us because both managers are from Spain. I said that with Pep here the league was going to improve, and he’s showing how good he is.

“Now we have to play against them but we must focus on ourselves. We played well against Arsenal but now we have to go to the Etihad expecting a tough game as Man City are an amazing team.”

Although Boro will head into this Saturday’s game as overwhelming underdogs, Karanka’s resilient Teesiders showed that they are more than capable of pulling off an upset by frustrating Arsene Wenger’s previously irrepressible Gunners side just two weeks ago, as they battled to a fully-deserved 0-0 draw at The Emirates Stadium.

Middlesbrough have taken their time in adjusting to life back in the top-flight following seven long years in The Championship, however, after encountering some early teething-problems, Karanka’s side appear to have turned the corner in recent weeks and, after taking four points from their last two games, Boro will be brimming with belief heading into this weekend’s trip to Manchester.