Aitor Karanka has admitted he spent more time preparing for the Blackpool fixture than he is currently for Sunday’s FA Cup tie at Arsenal.
That’s not to say the Boro boss is taking anything for granted ahead of the fifth round showdown at the Emirates.
In fact, the opposite is true. It’s simply an acknowledgement that he already knows plenty about the Gunners because he sees them so often on TV.
“The preparation for the two games is completely different, although the time spent is the same – maybe less for big games because I know more about the opponents than I can know about Blackpool or Charlton,” explained Karanka.
“I can watch them every single weekend and I know the Arsenal players much better than I know the Blackpool players.”
Karanka altered his formation and personnel for the trip to Blackpool as a result of the heavy Bloomfield Road pitch but the immaculate Emirates surface couldn’t be more different.
“It is not the same preparing to play against Blackpool on their pitch as it is preparing to play against Arsenal at the Emirates,” he said.
“It is completely different. The motivation is completely different, so my job is to make sure the players are motivated in the same way to play against Blackpool and Arsenal.”
In terms of travel plans, Boro will stick to their tried and tested policy of travelling down the day before the game.
Typically, for a game in the deep south, the squad will travel by plane and be picked up by the team coach at the airport.
They will stay at a hotel that boasts a training pitch and other facilities and, will, in all likelihood, take part in a light session the day before the game.
After games in London, the entire party often returns home on the train though, with Boro playing Birmingham on Wednesday, they may opt to stay down to avoid spending more time than necessary on the road.
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