Paul Ince hails role of 'amazing man' in Chelsea vs Middlesbrough prediction

23 January 2024 , 06:00

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Michael Carrick celebrates after Middlesbrough beat Chelsea in the first leg of their semi-final. (Image: 2023 Getty Images)

Paul Ince says Middlesbrough dumping Chelsea out of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night would be a triumph for the good guys.

And the former midfielder, who spent three seasons on Teesside, thinks Boro owner Steve Gibson is among the game’s best because he promotes English managers.

Incumbent Michael Carrick is the 13th manager to have served under Gibson’s 30-year chairmanship with the only non-Brit being Aitor Karanka.

For Ince that record should be a source of pride because homegrown coaches are increasingly finding their opportunities limited.

“Steve Gibson has put so much money into that club,” Ince, speaking to the Mirror on behalf of luckyblock.com, said. “He loves his managers, he protects and looks after them. He gives them a chance to progress.

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“Michael Carrick is doing a fantastic job at the moment but he’s definitely with the right chairman. Steve Gibson is an amazing, amazing man. He loves the club. At times they have gone through major financial struggles but he has never gotten up and left, never walked away from it.

“I love that he employs British managers. He tries to give English managers a chance, which is something you don’t get nowadays. Hopefully, fingers crossed, they can get to the final. It is possible, there’s no reason why they can’t do it.”

Meanwhile, Carrick claims Tuesday night's game will not be a “defining” moment in his management career. Boro lead 1-0 with opposite number Mauricio Pochettino describing this second leg as the biggest game of Chelsea ’s season. But Carrick is looking to play down the hype as he hopes to bring the Championship side to Wembley.

Paul Ince spent three seasons as a Middlesbrough player.

“Hopefully there is more to come after this and we can also achieve success in different ways,” Carrick said. “I can play down the edge, and the buzz of this. Part of football is creating hopes and dreams and the passion and excitement, the dream, the fairytale.

“I was exactly the same when I was purely a supporter. That is what it should be. It is very different when you are in it. You have to be concentrated and a bit more business-like. But that doesn’t take away the buzz and excitement and the passion to do well.

“The supporters should be dreaming and making the most of it and wanting to play the very best because that is the beauty of football.”

Alan Smith