AITOR KARANKA has had a meeting with chairman Steve Gibson and been told to focus on leading Middlesbrough to Wembley.

Pressure has mounted on the Boro boss, whose side face Manchester City in the FA Cup on Saturday, after seeing his side slip into the relegation zone having failed to win a Premier League game since before Christmas.

There were calls from supporters for Karanka to 'go home' after the defeat at Stoke last Saturday but he has insisted he would not walk away - and has had a meeting with Gibson this week.

Karanka said: “I have spoken to the chairman. In the meeting we know we have an amazing opportunity to get to Wembley. That was the positive thing.

"We need to look at the positive thing because around us we have a lot of negative things. The FA Cup is an important trophy in this country and we have to be positive.

"Of course (it feels like chairman backs me), he showed me after one month when I arrived here, so I don’t need to feel every day because he showed me after just one month.

“Always the most difficult moment for me was when I arrived here. We lost three, drew one and won just one, he transmitted his confidence.

"I don’t need to feel it every day and he doesn’t need to show me every day because I have that confidence."

Middlesbrough are likely to be without George Friend and Daniel Ayala as well as Calum Chambers for the visit of Manchester City in the FA Cup.

Karanka is desperate for a lift after a frustrating couple of results against Crystal Palace and Stoke.

He said: "I have worked the same hours, but I have changed the training sessions. I need to work more on their confidence.

"We had a lunch on Wednesday together, with the staff, the chairman, the main thing is everybody was on board.

"You can feel the spirit of this team and it is trying to recover their confidence. They need to know they can do a lot of good things.

“The crowd has been brilliant since I arrived here. Sometimes I want more from everyone. Me first, then the players and then the crowd.

"The crowd has been brilliant in bad moments this season. They were with us.

"I remember in a game against West Ham when we started the game losing.

"I know they will support us in the next Saturday as well because they know how important it is for us."