09 January 2024 , 02:00
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Michael Carrick walks past pictured of Juninho and Gareth Southgate lifting Boro’s only trophy every day before training.
Twenty years on, and Boro boss Carrick has a chance to emulate Steve McClaren’s side if they can overcome the most expensive Chelsea squad ever assembled. Carrick hope some of the “magic” of the Teessider's biggest moment can rub off on his side, despite Boro missing 11 first teamers for the first leg.
He said: “From the club's point of view, it's a huge, huge day for the club and I remember it, yes. Gareth was playing, Juninho was playing. I've seen the pictures up around here and I know what it means to people.
“I've said it a few times, that's the impact football can have, you can create special, special memories and special days for people.
“We're closer to that, but listen, we're realistic. I'm not looking to think this is our big, big chance of winning something. This is our next opportunity of trying to go through this next game and then further along the line, something might happen. We mustn't get too carried away just yet.
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"It was a major part of the history of the club and a massive, massive success, so I'm fully aware of what that means to the supporters and so many people connected to the club.”
Carrick has a whole team missing, including six players injured and the likes of Paddy McNair, Marcus Forss. Leading Carabao Cup scorer Morgan Rodgers is suspended and striker Sam Greenwood is cup tied. Two Aussies Riley McGree and Sam SIlvera are at the Asian Cup and keeper Seny Dieng is away with Senegal.
Boro want to mix up the usual roster of cup finalists which is taken from the Premier League elite and Carrick added: “It is good to be mixed up if you are not part of (the top six). Everyone is fighting to be successful in different ways. I am heavily biased. Of course we would love to flip that and try to do something. We can’t talk about winning it at this stage, there is too much to do before then.
“But in the cup it is a one off and a release form the week to week situation going for the league. There is a freshness and it has re energised us - that’s what I feel around the players and the town. That is why cups can be so unpredictable.
“The best ones are when you see the boys going for it, backing themselves and you see what they are capable of. Even if it doesn’t come off I’d rather see them doing that.”
Mauricio Pochettino's side are “very dangerous” and Carrick reckons they are on the up.
“His ideas are coming across more and more and individuals are starting to blossom. He is a top coach proven over a long time an dhis teams are hard to play against.
“It is the type of game that doesn’t come often. A semi final. So much work has gone into it. How many times will the boys be in a semi final in their careers? Some will, some won’t.”