Middlesbrough have been reinstated to the Championship play-off final against Hull City after Southampton were expelled by the EFL over the ‘Spygate’ saga
Michael Carrick has thrown his support behind Middlesbrough to triumph in the Championship play-off final, while acknowledging that the ‘Spygate’ controversy which saw them reinstated to the Wembley showpiece has been “unfortunate”.
Boro were knocked out by Southampton in the semi-finals, but the tie was cast into shadow after a Saints’ analyst was caught spying on a Middlesbrough training session ahead of the first leg at the Riverside.
Southampton advanced following extra time at St Mary’s, but were subsequently charged by the EFL and dramatically ejected from the play-off final on Tuesday night, with Middlesbrough stepping in to take their place. A Southampton appeal was rejected on Wednesday.
Carrick spent three years at the helm of Boro, suffering play-off heartbreak in his first season in charge, and he is now hoping his former club can secure a return to the Premier League this weekend, reports the Manchester Evening News.
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“I’m not close enough to it to understand all the details, to be honest with you,” Carrick said of ‘Spygate’. “I mean, it’s unfortunate for a lot of people, and a lot of people were involved in all the football clubs that I’ve ended up being involved in, all Southampton and Middlesbrough, so the whole situation is a little bit unfortunate.
“All I can say is that I wish Middlesbrough all the best, obviously I’ve had great times there. I’ve got a lot of friends there and I’d love to see, especially the players and seeing them do well. They gave everything for me when I was there, the ones that were there, so to see them have success and end up in the Premier League, I take a lot of pride in that.”
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