Middlesbrough: Michael Carrick on recovering from horrific defeat by Coventry

Carrick was keen to lead Boro to Wembley and promotion this season so his players would be rewarded for their ‘sacrifice’ and the fans would be rewarded for their incredible support.

But although this week’s setback hurts now – and will hurt for a while – Carrick knows the pain must be directed toward coming back stronger next season.

He said: “We have a lot of young players in the dressing room who have never had that much experience. You always learn the most from the difficult ones, even if it’s horrible to get ahead.”

“We now have some time in the summer to think about it, learn from it and come back from it.”

“We have to use that as a basis – as hard as it is to sit here in this moment and say that.”

“I didn’t want to sit here and say that, but that’s the reality. Without thinking too far ahead, we need to build on that.”

Boro was not helped by a string of premature injuries to key players in the final weeks of the season as Jonny Howson and Aaron Ramsey were both absent on Wednesday, but Carrick said: “I’m not here to make excuses. Injuries are part of the game. Of course it didn’t help, they never do.

“But I’m not going to sit here and make excuses. We just have to take it lightly. We were dealt the cards we were dealt and we didn’t quite get it right.”

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He added: “The disappointment is huge, not so much for myself but for the group – for the players and staff and as well as the fans and the club in general.”

“I’m in a position where you’re trying to help and guide, take the responsibility of producing for the football club. We just fell a little short, but I’m very proud of them all.”

“The players have been amazing and it really is a special group – one of the best people I’ve ever dealt with and I really can’t fault them.”

“That’s disappointing more than anything because they gave everything they could and I don’t think they got what they deserved, not in the football sense but deserved in terms of what they gave and sacrificed have. So.” It hurts me to think that they weren’t able to achieve what I wanted them to do.”

The Boro boss quickly built a strong bond between the fans and the team, repeatedly thanking the fans for their support this season.

He said: “We’ve built a connection with fans over time and it’s always grown at home and on the go. We appreciate the time, effort and money they have put into supporting us because it is incredible.”