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Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka vows to match mentality of his friend Jose Mourinho to avoid relegation

Aitor Karanka insists he has the same mentality as mentor Jose Mourinho as he attempts to drag Middlesbrough to Premier League safety.

The Spaniard cut his teeth as a coach under Mourinho at Real Madrid before stepping into the limelight on Teesside in November 2013.

On Sunday, the Manchester United boss added the EFL Cup to the Community Shield his new employers collected in August to counter the critics who were less than impressed by his start at Old Trafford.

Aitor Karanka and Jose Mourinho are friends from their time working at Real Madrid together
Aitor Karanka and Jose Mourinho are friends from their time working at Real Madrid together
Middlesbrough have struggled for goals in the Premier League and are 17th in the table
Middlesbrough have struggled for goals in the Premier League and are 17th in the table

Karanka knows exactly what makes Mourinho tick and is adamant that he is driven by the same forces as he looks to keep Boro out of the relegation zone, a process which will continue at Stoke on Saturday.