Tony Mowbray is preparing to welcome his former club Middlesbrough to the SoL on Sunday, and being a Teesside legend himself he definitely believes these matches to be classed as 'derbies'.
LOCAL PRIDE
"I’ve managed one of these games before at the Riverside, there good games that footballers should want to play in. It will be a big crowd, and local pride is at stake. Both teams are doing ok in the league, and it's an exciting game. It’s no secret that I live on Teesside, and every time I go out I have people wishing me well. But, obviously they don’t want me to get the result on the day."
BORO
"However, I’m really looking forward to it, I think it will be a really good game. I’ve watched Middlesbrough’s games over the last few weeks, and they have done exceptionally well. Michael has installed confidence and belief in the team, they are good with the ball, they have got good rotations, and passing lines. I think it will be a really good footballing display, Boro come with confidence, and I think our teams in a good place. Before the sending off I felt things were going to plan, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be. We’ve got some good players ourselves, and it will be a really good game."
CARRICK
"Obviously we don’t want to go into the game with setbacks, but we have to take care of ourselves, Middlesbrough are on an upwards trajectory. Carrick has spent a long period of his career under arguably the greatest coach in the modern era, and he’s clearly picked up a lot. When I speak to him, he’s always very calm and methodical, he knows how he wants his teams to play, he brings a lot of emotion and intelligence to the job. I wish him well, not just because I’m from Middlesbrough, because I want to compete with him and hopefully finish above him. He seems to be a genuine guy, and I wish him well. I really want Middlesbrough to do well, because it’s where I’m from. But not at the expense of this club, where I work everyday, and interact with the players, staff and supporters on a regular basis. Hopefully, we get the three points and keep moving forward. "
INVESTMENT
"Steve Gibson has invested a lot of money into Middlesbrough over the years, and different managers like different types of players. I think the impressive thing about Michael (Carrick), is that he hasn’t changed too much, but he seems to be getting some really good results. Chris Wilder built an amazing reputation, with his overlapping centre backs, he tried to bring that to Middlesbrough, but that didn’t go to plan for whatever reason. Michael Carrick has brought his own ideas, and his own style of play. The point I’m trying to make is that they’ve got good players, and that’s why it’s a really good challenge."
BIG CHALLENGE
"We’ve got really good players as well, and on the training ground I’ve told them to relish the challenge, and face it head on. We should all be looking forward to this game, it’s a derby game at home with a big crowd."
