PEP GUARDIOLA has accused Middlesbrough of “not wanting to play football” in their 1-1 draw at Manchester City, but Aitor Karanka insists his players should be praised rather than pilloried for their tactically-astute approach.

Manchester City fired in 18 shots compared to Boro’s four, with the Teessiders failing to record a single shot either on or off target in the whole of the first half, but Marten de Roon’s stoppage-time header still meant Guardiola’s side failed to win at home in the Premier League for the third game in succession.

City boasted more than 75 per cent of possession in the opening 25 minutes, and for much of the first half, Boro were stationing nine outfield players in their own penalty area in order to repel a series of opposition attacks.

Guardiola was clearly frustrated by such an overtly defensive approach, particularly as it was not the first time his side have encountered such tactics this season. However, with his mood matching the frustration of the home fans that trooped out of the Etihad at the final whistle, it was hard not to regard his comments as a case of sour grapes.

“They had ten players behind the ball, and they didn’t want to play,” said the City boss, who has a strained relationship with Karanka because of the pair’s time on opposite sides of the Spanish divide between Barcelona and Real Madrid. “When ten players are there, it is difficult, but we created enough chances to score another goal.

“The last two or three weeks have always been like this. We took the ball, but were attacking ten guys. We controlled it and didn’t concede counter-attacks. We controlled the attack and the second balls were good, but of course there will be some moments where the opponents arrive and make a chance.

“People say, ‘Ah, use the counter-attack’, but how are we supposed to use the counter-attack when the opponents don’t attack? It’s impossible to use it when the opponent doesn’t come (out). You have to attack ten players, and it’s not easy.”

Understandably, Karanka saw things rather differently. Boro were too passive in the first half, standing off their opponents and wasting their limited possession with a series of aimless long balls, but they modified their approach at the interval and matched City in terms of territory and possession in the second period.

Claudio Bravo saved from Alvaro Negredo and Adam Forshaw before de Roon scored, and with City having brushed aside Barcelona in their previous outing, Karanka regards Saturday’s result as even more impressive than his side’s previous away point at Arsenal.

“It was much more difficult because, against Arsenal, we didn’t concede a goal and created a few chances,” said the Boro head coach. “Here, we went on the pitch and showed them too much respect.

“In the first half we just tried to defend, and when you are against big teams and think you are just going to defend, you concede a goal. At half-time I told them we had to play, and we did that.

“We have shown we can compete against two of the best teams in the league, or even the world because Arsenal and Man City have amazing squads. For us to compete with them at their stadiums is good for us, and we have to keep going to believe in ourselves.”

Karanka was delighted with de Roon’s headed equaliser, but the Boro boss reserved special praise for goalkeeper Victor Valdes, whose two first-half saves were crucial to the final outcome.

Valdes kept out Sergio Aguero’s low strike before producing an even better stop to frustrate David Silva, and having made a relatively slow start to his Boro career, the 34-year-old is gradually starting to display the form that made him one of the most highly-rated goalkeepers in the world during his 12-year spell with Barcelona.

“I am really pleased for him because, as a keeper, you need a lot of confidence,” said Karanka. “I tried to transmit my confidence to him, and he is showing how good he is. He is a leader in the dressing room, he is really good, and he is going to help us a lot.

“He made three amazing saves, and against Arsenal and Bournemouth, he did two or three too. When I signed him, I knew he is not the same keeper he was at Barcelona because if he had been at that level, he would not have been here.

“He is with us because he had problems in the past, but the main thing for me is to keep him happy. He is an amazing keeper on the pitch.”