Michael Carrick’s words.
“It’s all on the line and there’s no getting away from it, there will be probably be no other chances.”
Middlesbrough host Norwich City today, the first in what Carrick has described as a “two game shootout”.
Win today and beat Coventry next weekend and Boro are in the Championship play-offs. Anything less might not be enough.
Yes, it’s in Boro’s hands but they surely can’t afford any more slip-ups. Not after the latest missed opportunity at Hillsborough on Easter Monday.
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“After Sheffield Wednesday, there was the disappointment of losing the game, but then actually realising, it’s still in our hands,” said Carrick.
“That disappointment turns to huge motivation, and still excitement of what’s possible. It’s important to have that perspective.
“The boys have shown great energy and great positivity. They have something to look forward to.
“We clean everything away that’s done and look at what’s ahead of us. There’s a buzz and excitement.
“It’s a clean slate in that it’s a two game shoot-out. Experience of what’s happened before comes into it and hopefully that helps us, whether it’s positive or not.
“We know too many times this season the experience is one of not going to plan, and we know that. But often, you can learn and gain more from that.”
Carrick has called for positivity this week but understands, on the back of a season of recurring slip-ups and setbacks, why there’s frustration in the fanbase.
“We’re frustrated and disappointed as a group ourselves, 100% we are,” he said.
“In some ways, because the players have shown certain levels of potential and certain levels of performance in games, you get that belief that something bigger can happen.
“That’s how it should be – that’s the beauty of it. There’s the reality side of that though, in terms of there being no given right for us to be there.
“Teams like Norwich, who are behind us, West Brom who are behind us, would have had similar expectations, so we can’t take anything for granted.
“We appreciate how tough it is. It’s not like it’s every year: play-offs, play-offs, play-offs. We’ve not always got there, but it’s something we always strive for.
“Since I’ve been here, it’s been pretty stable in terms of where we’re at. We’ve got to make that jump, and we’ve got a chance to.
“I do think we’re building a squad of players, with experiences of that, who can hopefully be ready for that. We want to be, we need to be, to make the difference.”
