AITOR KARANKA claims he has no problem with Stewart Downing or Jordan Rhodes, but has refused to be drawn on what led to the uncertainty surrounding his future as Middlesbrough’s head coach after holding his first press conference since his return to the club.

The Boro boss was told he could not lead his squad into last Sunday’s trip to Charlton because of an incident at the training ground a week ago when he is understood to have stormed out of a meeting with players.

That led to four days of speculation about his position until a London meeting on Monday with chairman Steve Gibson – which Karanka claims lasted 20 minutes – ended with an announcement that he was set to continue in his post.

The situation has raised concerns that the events have affected Boro's promotion push, particularly as many of the claims at the centre of the problems were he had fallen out with his playing staff.

And, even though he is known to have had disagreements with other players in the past, Downing and Rhodes have, perhaps unfairly, been cited as major reasons for last weekend’s developments.

But Karanka, keen to see a positive reaction in front of a crowd of more than 25,000 when promotion rivals Hull City arrive on Teesside tonight, has told both that he does not have any issues with them.

Asked about his relationship with Downing, Karanka said: “It is a good question because I think the best example to show what a relationship between a player and a coach is like is how much he is playing. And, until Sunday, Stewart was the player, except the keeper, who has played more minutes. So that is the best example.”

Rhodes moved from Blackburn at the end of the January transfer window in a deal worth an initial £9m, potentially rising to £13m, but he has only started five of the nine games since then, scoring once.

Supporters have called for him to start more often, leading to claims the Scotland international was not Karanka’s No 1 choice having also pursued Fulham’s Ross McCormack.

But Karanka said: "When this club signs a player, it is not the chairman's player, not the recruitment department's player, he is not Aitor Karanka's player. He is our player so when we sign a player, he is Middlesbrough Football Club's player.

“The reason Jordan Rhodes did not play the games he didn't play was because I didn't want to arrive at the situation I thought he arrived at last Sunday. I was watching the game and Jordan Rhodes, with his confidence, I knew.

“I used to be a player. Real Madrid paid a lot of money for me. I came back to Bilbao and sometimes you have to manage the situation and this pressure.

“I need Jordan playing his best. The only thing I can tell you, I will always and I will keep doing it, I have the players that I want to have and I pick the first XI always thinking those 11 players are the best players for every single game.”

He added: "I do not need to tell you what I am doing with the players. The most important thing is to think about the game against Hull and to explain to everybody if I had a problem with Stewart Downing. I don't think he would be the player who has played the most games.

“If Jordan Rhodes was not my player, he would not have played against Leeds and Cardiff and the games that he has played. Again, all the players are here because I want them, all of them.”

Boro have dropped to third and are out to avoid dropping a further place by losing to the team below them, Hull, at the Riverside tonight. They will still be without key defender Daniel Ayala because of his ankle problem.

After spending the last couple of days back on the training ground, having attempted to clear the air and move on when he met the players on Tuesday, Karanka is out to guide his team back to winning ways.

Asked whether the problems would resurface if his side lose upcoming matches, the former Real Madrid No 2 said: “Of course we’re going to lose again. Hopefully we only lose one game in the last ten. I don’t think anything will happen other than losing three points.”

Karanka repeatedly avoided describing the events of last Friday which led to the problems over the weekend, but he believes there are no issues and that the club can progress under him.

He said: “Do you think if I had a problem with this squad they would have played the way they did (Charlton)? If I had a problem with a coach when I was a player, and the coach that day wasn’t on the bench, I would have flew (played well).

“The players saw that we need each other. Together, we were top of the table one month ago. When we are together we are really strong.

“I am learning but my way is the same. I’ve been here for two years and, if we were to compare the positions – we are now second – I don’t think I am the problem.

“I don’t think we have to change. With my way the team is improving and the best example is the table. I don’t think I have to change.”

He added: “All I can do is make it clear – I never wanted to leave this club and the club never wanted to sack me. This is the most clear point.

“When you are a coach, and I have been a coach for just two years, you have to know always (that the sack could come). With the relationship that I have with the chairman, I’m sure one day he has to sack me and when he does, he is going to be thinking that it is best for Middlesbrough Football Club.”

Boro: Konstantopoulos; Nsue, Kalas, Gibson, Friend; Clayton, Leadbitter; Adomah, Ramirez, Downing; Nugent.