Inside Michael Carrick's press conference with the Middlesbrough boss bullish under pressure
It is often when you might consider Michael Carrick's back to be against the wall that the Middlesbrough head coach delivers his better press conferences.
While that hasn't been too frequently in his almost two years in charge at the Riverside, it's undoubted that, when he feels the need for whatever reason to defend himself, his team or an individual player, you often see the Boro boss at his best as far as extracting information and detail from him is concerned.
That's certainly the case right now, with Boro under fire from many quarters following their defeat to Sunderland last weekend. A recurrence of common issues that have already cost Boro ten points in six games so far this season, there have been questions about Boro's misfiring attack, whether the style and system is getting the best out of them, and whether they are ultimately too predictable to defend against.
READ MORE: Michael Carrick is right in his Middlesbrough style of play stance but only on one condition
SUBSCRIBE: Click here to subscribe to Teesside Live's Boro newsletter
They were all questions put to the Boro boss as he sat down to deliver his pre-match press conference for the Stoke City clash this weekend. Despite the mood, his natural calm and collected nature was unwavering. While he referenced on numerous occasions his appreciation that it is up to Boro to make it happen, he was balanced in his analysis and still positive in his belief that his side are on the right track.
He said: “Of course we feel we’re close. I think you can see that in the way the games are and the time we’re spending in and around the opposition box compared to our own box, the chances we’re having and things like that. In some ways, you can see from that it’s really close. We’re largely happy with things that we’re doing and where we feel we are - in many ways, that’s not far away.”
Carrick is under no illusion that everything is perfect right now though. There were numerous notions of needing to improve, the onus being on them to find solutions and the like. It came after Carrick noted after the Sunderland defeat that many teams were sitting deeper and playing a different way to usual against them this season.
It's proven a particular problem for Boro, who, in a continuation from much of last season, have struggled to break down defences that employ a low block - much like Sunderland in last weekend's second half. It's not been the only issue - with too many big chances missed also - in an attack that is struggling to find a ruthless edge currently.
But acknowledging the low block is a particular Achilles heel, Carrick referenced last weekend's Arsenal-Man City clash as proof that the solution is not always such an easy one.
“Some teams have set up like that, some haven’t," he said. "Some of our play - not always - but it’s ended up in and around their box because we play and do a lot of good things to get in that position. I don’t think teams are necessarily setting up to deliberately sit in and around their box as much as they have done. But who knows?
"Part of the game is figuring out what’s in front of you and finding the solution in different ways. Everyone is entitled to play however they want to play and it’s up to us to find a way of dealing with whatever that is. I watched the Man City Arsenal game last week, Arsenal had one player less and pretty much had their whole team in their own box and Man City didn't break them down until the 97th minute.
"It shows when there are that many bodies around the box it's not easy to break down. We will find a way, I believe that, but it just shows if you are in that situation, that was the prime example, it's not as easy as flicking a switch and having an easy answer."
Whether easy or not, Carrick knows he and his players have to find way. He was bullish in his belief that his system is fine and his players are good enough. But he knows they have to find the answers for the questions that opposition defences are asking of them, and fast, because Boro know only too well how costly it can be to drop too many points early on.
Balanced as ever, he stopped short of criticising his players or giving too much away about the work they are doing to make things better. But that work is happening every day at Rockliffe.
“It’s whether your glass is half-full or half-empty, to be honest," he said. "That’ll determine which way you look at it. When I say there are a lot of good things happening, it’s easy for me to throw that out. But, genuinely, I think that we are and I think the way the games are being played shows that.
"I’m not massive on stats and data to tell the whole story, but certainly, to have that many shots on goal, to have that many entries into the opposition box, I think it shows there are a lot of good things and a lot of positive play within the group. But, of course, goals make the difference in games.
"Sitting in the position I’m in as a coach, trying to get the players to perform at a certain level to get results over a period of time, I think we’re looking for signs and positives notes within that, that in the end we believe will produce positive results. I understand some will look at the points and say it’s not enough. I do get that.
"The longer it goes, we’ve got to be calm about it and keep doing the right things, keep staying sharp and focused and continue to believe in it. If we keep putting ourselves in the right positions, we’ve certainly got the quality to make the difference.
"It’s a balancing act, of course, because we’re desperate to pick up more points and win more games. In some ways, you can get too desperate and that overspills a little bit. So the key is to keep doing the right things and keep trusting ourselves and I’m certain we will be fine.
"If I don’t like the look of certain things, the players will know that. We can’t just keep saying everything is great when it’s not. But certainly, when it is, you’ve got to take that belief and find a way to be rewarded for it. In the end, we reward ourselves through our work, our performance levels and making that difference when chances and opportunities come along."
The pressure is on Carrick and his Boro players to find the solutions to their attacking problems if they are to achieve their goals this season. As Boro head into what feels like an important clash with Stoke City though, one thing is for certain and it's that Carrick will remain level-headed in his emotions as he looks for any extra edge he can provide for his players.