Michael Carrick comments on his Middlesbrough future after missing out on play-offs, boss is ‘carrying on’

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Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick was probed about his immediate future after Boro failed to earn a Championship play-offs place on final day.

Middlesbrough’s season ended in a disappointing 2-0 defeat against fellow top-six hopefuls Coventry City, which cemented the tenth-placed finish for Michael Carrick’s side.

Defeat against Sheffield Wednesday, and a 0-0 stalemate with Norwich City, left Championship play-offs hopes out of Boro’s hands on the 2024/25 second tier final day.

Frank Lampard’s side booked their top-six spot, in the upcoming semi-final against Sunderland, at the expense of Boro with a comfortable win at the CBS Arena.

After the campaign ended in failure, Carrick has now lifted the lid on how this season’s conclusion will impact his immediate future in the Riverside dugout.

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Michael Carrick comments on his Middlesbrough future after missing play-offs

Boro’s barren record against Coventry continued on Saturday, with Jack Rudoni’s brace securing the victory for Lampard’s side, in a result that will not have pleased Sunderland supporters.

Sky Blues shotstopper Ben Wilson was in stellar form, with the 32-year-old making six saves to keep the Boro attackers at bay, who once again failed to convert their ample chances.

Carrick’s future was questioned by Sky Sports pundit Gary Weaver after the game, mirroring the Boro faithful’s reaction after the Canaries draw.

Many Boro fans believe Carrick is now skating on thin ice after failing to earn a top-six spot in three successive second tier seasons, finishing tenth in the Championship table this time round, which is a significant regression on their eight-placed finish last term.

When probed on whether he thinks he’ll be granted a fourth crack at getting Boro out of the Championship, by long-term supportive owner Steve Gibson, the Boro boss revealed his expectations for the immediate future on Teesside.

Carrick told BBC Sport Tees: “I’m carrying on, we’ve got a good squad and my focus is carrying on to what I can say to the boys, today and tomorrow, and get ready for another good season.

“We’ve got a good squad, good stability within the group, we’re doing a lot of good things and if we can add to that, and improve, things can look up from there.”

Carrick admits he expects to be “carrying on” as Boro boss, but he is not the only Riverside figure whose future is up in the air ahead of the summer transfer window.

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What does future hold for Michael Carrick and Middlesbrough

Having failed once again to achieve Championship play-offs status, a plethora of Boro stars future’s hang in the balance with the summer window looming, as well as that of Carrick.

EFL Analysis understands it’s very likely Hayden Hackney will now leave Boro, with Premier League sides circling for the midfielder’s signature.

Defender Rav van den Berg could also depart Teesside in the upcoming window, while Boro are also wary of losing Finn Azaz, following the Irishman’s impressive 23-goal contribution campaign in his first full season on Teesside.

Losing three of their most crucial stars would put a major dent in next season’s revival plans before they have even began, and with pressure mounting on Carrick about his future in the Boro hotseat, there could be a turbulent summer at the Riverside Stadium ahead.