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Leicester v Middlesbrough: Foxes still a top team says Karanka

By Thomas Atzenhoffer

MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 24: Aitor Karanka manager of Middlesbrough and assistant Steve Agnew look on prior to the Premier League match between Middlesbrough and Tottenham Hotspur at the Riverside Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 24: Aitor Karanka manager of Middlesbrough and assistant Steve Agnew look on prior to the Premier League match between Middlesbrough and Tottenham Hotspur at the Riverside Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) /
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Leicester City may not be showing their best this season but that is no reason to not see the Foxes as a threat according to Aitor Karanka.

The Middlebrough manager believes that although Leicester City are languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table, the Foxes are defending champions.

Not only are they defending champions, but despite their poor form this season, Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez were named on the Ballon d’Or shortlist and were a force to be reckoned with last season and still have that fire in them somewhere.

Ahead of Boro’s trip to the King Power Stadium, Karanka has urged his players to forget that their hosts have had a rough start to the campaign as there is still a lot of talent in the side that could explode at any minute.

It is no more evident that their form is still in there, all you have to do is look at their UEFA Champions League results this season to know that Leicester still know how to get results.

Speaking ahead of the match Karanka discussed Leicester’s conundrum ahead of his side’s trip to the King Power:

"“Leicester are not in a good moment in the league but they are qualified in the Champions League, and to play in the places they have played in, in the Champions League, is not easy.They won the league last year and they are example of togetherness and why it is important to play as a team if you want to achieve important things.”"

To the new to England manager, Karanka has been greatly lifted by his own side’s spirit and fight this season and believes that Boro have more of a chance to achieve success than many might have originally though:

"“The important thing for me when you are playing against the top teams in the league is that you go right to the last moment of the game still with a chance to win the game.We had the experience where we lost in the first 50 minutes against Everton but now we are more consistent on the pitch.Against [Manchester] City we scored in the 91st minute and we had a chance last Sunday to score at the end of the game, so it feels like with this squad we have a chance.”xx"

The Leicester and Middlesbrough game this weekend should be a great one to watch and it could have some early implications on just who will be fighting to finish in the upper middle table.

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