Beating a recently promoted team with injury issues might seem a cakewalk for Tottenham, but Mauricio Pochettino will do well not to underestimate Aitor Karanka and his team.
Formerly José Mourinho’s assistant at Real Madrid, Karanka came to Middlesbrough on the advice of his former mentor. The Spaniard was the first foreign manager in the club’s history, and quickly went about making the changes necessary to get Boro back into the Premier League after a prolonged absence.
What success Karanka’s had — the biggest of which was last season’s automatic promotion to the Premier League — has come in large part due to his knack for finding the best in veteran talent. Both Grant Leadbitter and George Friend came to Middlesbrough as disappointments, only to be revitalized as key parts of Karanka’s team.
The club’s acquisition of Victor Valdés and Álvaro Negredo weren’t desperation moves then. Rather, they were players that Karanka has good reason to believe he can get back to their level best. Their inclusion in a team that also includes budding talents like Daniel Ayala, Marten de Roon and Viktor Fischer makes Middlesbrough perhaps the strongest of the promoted teams.
Keen eyed observers will note that, after five games in the Premier League, Middlesbrough don’t seem to be living up to that reputation. A decent start that featured a win and two draws collapsed in the last two losses to Crystal Palace and Everton. Even chaotic and under-staffed Hull City has managed a better record than that.
There is reason to believe that Middlesbrough can pull out of this dive, and Tottenham should be on notice for their match Saturday.
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Karanka’s relies mostly on sturdy defending — Boro’s 31 conceded goals were the lowest of any team in the Championship last season. The addition of former Atalanta midfield destroyer Marten de Roon only makes it easier for them to shut up shop and concentrate on getting the ball forward. It will take time for that unit to gel and find their best. Tottenham might be fortunate to be meeting them relatively early in the season.
It’s no surprise with such a defense-first philosophy that Middlesbrough would rely on a trio of attackers — two wingers stretching defenses and breaking offside traps with one striker hurdling through the center.
Overall, it’s a system that has proven especially effective against Tottenham over the last two weeks. Monaco’s stunning 2-1 win in the opening match of Tottenham’s Champions League campaign relied heavily on tricky wingers and the presence of Radamel Falcao through the center. Sunderland never quite looked like winning last Sunday, but they came closest when catching Tottenham on the break with such a limited counter-attack.
Pochettino and Tottenham’s backline will be hoping that Cristhian Stuani fails to recover from injury in time for Saturday’s match. The Uruguayan winger scored both of Boro’s goals against Sunderland and looked dangerous in his other two appearances as well.
Former Southampton man Gastón Ramírez hasn’t yet hit his stride yet this season, but he could be as much or more influential than Stuani in his likely start. Combined with the aerial prowess of Negredo, Tottenham will be focusing on protecting their flanks from what will likely be a lot of crosses.
Though far from the best representation in the Premier League, Middlesbrough’s defense will be a good first test for Vincent Janssen. The Dutchman’s first Premier League start as the sole striker in the side will be tricky, but if Tottenham’s attack can find a mix of quality through the center and delivery from the flanks, his job will be made easier.
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