Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
KARANKA’S FURY OVER NEW FACES
AITOR KARANKA is reaching breaking point on Teesside after missing out on top transfer targets.
The Boro boss is fuming that the club have not landed any of the new faces he wanted – Jese Rodriguez, Bojan Krkic and Robert Snodgrass.
Karanka, whose side are slipping close to the relegation zone after one win in eight league games, expressed his discontent ahead of tonight’s test against West Brom.
Quizzed why Boro had failed to convince the likes of Jese and Bojan to join, he pointedly said: “Not a question for me, I don’t know. I tried my best. The club knew my thoughts a month and a half ago.”
Asked if he trusted CEO Neil Bausor to deliver on deadline day, the Spaniard replied: “I need to trust the club. All I can do is put 11 players on the pitch.” Prickly Karanka also faces rehabilitating midfielder Gaston Ramirez, who has been agitating for a transfer.
Asked if he will stay, with
Leicester interested, Karanka said: “I don’t care...” Clarifying that comment, he added: “The only thing I’ll say is he’ll be here on February 1.”
Karanka’s stormy press conference came a week after he criticised Boro fans, then smoothed it over with the home faithful.
Boro have signed Rudy Gestede and Patrick Bamford to bolster their front line this month. But Karanka insisted: “I always said the aim in the transfer window was to improve the squad, and at the moment we haven’t done that.” Baggies boss Tony Pulis (above) reckons Karanka will have to get used to unhappy fans moaning in the Premier League.
Pulis said: “It was always going to be tough for Boro, the first year.
“I think supporters are the same everywhere now. There is not a lot of time to get things right and they want instant success.”