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Card-sharp Aitor Karanka believes Boro hold all the aces going into their final day clash with Brighton .
The boss knows the high-stakes shoot-out will be a difficult test.
Brighton are a good side on a run of 14 games unbeaten and they arrive at the Riverside knowing that only victory will see them up.
Boro are in second spot and ahead of the Seagulls on goal difference so a draw will do.
The game is finely balanced but Karanka believes Boro have a strategic edge in some key areas.
“We have this game at home in front of our support and I am really positive, these Boro fans are absolutely incredible and we know they derserve promotion more than anyone else,” he told the Gazette.
“I think the team are better this season and that I have learned.
“When you have been in football so many years you are always learning.
“When I was a player I learned, when I was a coach with the Spain Under-16 and Under-17 national team I learned, when I was with Jose Mourinho I learned, the last two years I have learned. I learn every single day.
“And the team has also learned. We are more prepared than we were last season
“I said after the final game last season, after Wembley, that we would be better and we would be stronger,” he said. “And now we are.”
And Karanka says the shape of the table and home advantage give Boro an extra edge.
“We have it in our hands,” he insisted.
“We have the final at our own stadium and we are better than we were last season.
“It will be a really tough game, a really difficult 95 minutes. But we ready. I am ready, the club is ready, the fans are ready, and especially the players are ready.
“It will be tough but I think if I had to choose Brighton’s situation or ours I would choose ours, definitely. Playing at home with the incredible support we get, I would not like to be Brighton coming here playing in front of such passion
“To play at home with our record, to play at home with our crowd, with the goal difference in our favour - I think we have some important advantages before it starts.”
But now it is down to Boro to make those advantages count he added.
“We must prepare well, we must concentrate and we must play well and in our way.
“The club is in a good moment. The players are happy. I am looking forward to the game.”
The boss knows the high-stakes shoot-out will be a difficult test.
Brighton are a good side on a run of 14 games unbeaten and they arrive at the Riverside knowing that only victory will see them up.
Boro are in second spot and ahead of the Seagulls on goal difference so a draw will do.
The game is finely balanced but Karanka believes Boro have a strategic edge in some key areas.
“We have this game at home in front of our support and I am really positive, these Boro fans are absolutely incredible and we know they derserve promotion more than anyone else,” he told the Gazette.
“I think the team are better this season and that I have learned.
“When you have been in football so many years you are always learning.
“When I was a player I learned, when I was a coach with the Spain Under-16 and Under-17 national team I learned, when I was with Jose Mourinho I learned, the last two years I have learned. I learn every single day.
“And the team has also learned. We are more prepared than we were last season
“I said after the final game last season, after Wembley, that we would be better and we would be stronger,” he said. “And now we are.”
And Karanka says the shape of the table and home advantage give Boro an extra edge.
“We have it in our hands,” he insisted.
“We have the final at our own stadium and we are better than we were last season.
“It will be a really tough game, a really difficult 95 minutes. But we ready. I am ready, the club is ready, the fans are ready, and especially the players are ready.
“It will be tough but I think if I had to choose Brighton’s situation or ours I would choose ours, definitely. Playing at home with the incredible support we get, I would not like to be Brighton coming here playing in front of such passion
“To play at home with our record, to play at home with our crowd, with the goal difference in our favour - I think we have some important advantages before it starts.”
But now it is down to Boro to make those advantages count he added.
“We must prepare well, we must concentrate and we must play well and in our way.
“The club is in a good moment. The players are happy. I am looking forward to the game.”
