Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka has 80-page dossiers on every opponent and lets his players chat on mobile phones in the dressing room: A day in the life of a modern manager

On the touchline of a practice pitch at Middlesbrough’s Rockliffe Training Ground, Aitor Karanka is demanding more from his players.

‘Come on, come on, come on,’ he urges, as Adama Traore’s strike is saved by Victor Valdes. ‘We need to score. When we get chances, we must take them.’

In training, 21-year-old winger Traore receives rebukes and praise in equal measure. ‘Adama, if you lose it there, we’re dead!’ Karanka shouts, as Traore attempts a trick near his penalty area. At the other end, he gets in a good cross. ‘Eso es! (that’s it!)’ grins Karanka.

• Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
  1	Chelsea	25	19	3	3	34	60
  2	Manchester City	25	16	4	5	22	52
  3	Tottenham Hotspur	25	14	8	3	28	50
  4	Arsenal	25	15	5	5	26	50
  5	Liverpool	25	14	7	4	24	49
  6	Manchester United	25	13	9	3	17	48
  7	Everton	25	11	8	6	13	41
  8	West Bromwich Albion	25	10	7	8	3	37
  9	Stoke City	25	8	8	9	-6	32
  10	West Ham United	25	9	5	11	-9	32
  11	Southampton	25	8	6	11	-3	30
  12	Burnley	25	9	3	13	-9	30
  13	Watford	25	8	6	11	-13	30
  14	Bournemouth	25	7	5	13	-14	26
  15	Swansea City	25	7	3	15	-23	24
  16	Middlesbrough	25	4	10	11	-8	22
  17	Leicester City	25	5	6	14	-19	21
  18	Hull City	25	5	5	15	-27	20
  19	Crystal Palace	25	5	4	16	-14	19
  20	Sunderland	25	5	4	16	-22	19

The smile gives way.