A RESOLUTE Aitor Karanka has hit back at his critics and insisted, ‘I’ll continue to manage Middlesbrough my way’.

For the first time in his managerial career, Karanka finds himself under growing pressure as he prepares for tomorrow’s Premier League game at Arsenal, with discontent mounting in the face of six successive games without a victory.

The frustration in the stands was obvious as Boro laboured to a 1-0 home defeat to Watford last weekend, recording a solitary shot on target, and the last few days have witnessed supporters voicing their concerns on social media.

It would be wrong to claim that Karanka’s position is in the balance, with Steve Gibson having a long-established reputation for giving his managers as much time as possible to arrest a poor run of form, but the Spaniard’s perceived conservatism when it comes to tactics and team selections is coming under increased attack.

Nevertheless, the Boro boss remains adamant he will not be adapting his approach in order to appease his critics, and claims it would be ridiculous to pay too much attention to anyone commenting on his work.

“The only way to respond is to work hard, and tell them (the critics) that they are not here to train the team,” said Karanka, who was flanked by two external press advisors as he conducted his usual pre-match duties yesterday.

“They are not here to analyse the opponent. They are not here to have lunch with the players. They are not here to do anything – it is my job, and I am head coach. It is easy to say something when you are not living here 24 hours.

“As a supporter, you want your team winning every single day. But once again, I can’t do my training sessions, my line-ups, my work, thinking that the crowd is thinking this kind of thing, the chairman is thinking this, or the journalists are thinking that. I have to trust myself and my players, and try to do my best, starting at Arsenal.”

Having openly admitted that he would regard a 17th-place finish as a success this season, it could be argued that Karanka is on track after the opening eight games.

Boro have not been beaten by more than two goals in any of their matches so far this season, and Karanka’s organisational qualities have helped secure creditable draws at West Brom and West Ham.

It is the negativity of the Teessiders’ approach that has caused most consternation though, with Karanka’s refusal to start with two centre-forwards, repeated selection of two defensive midfielders and reluctance to make substitutions until the dying seconds of a game all sources of mounting frustration.

The former Real Madrid assistant understands why Boro supporters are becoming increasingly concerned, but insists he cannot afford to become too caught up in their worries.

“I think it is in the coach’s life to understand that you have to be ready for the critics and the things around you,” said Karanka. “I can understand them.

“When I was a kid, I was the supporter of a team, and when that team didn’t win, I was not happy. Now, I have all the responsibilities and it is not like being a fan. You have to think as a coach.”

And with his coach’s hat on, Karanka remains utterly confident his side will avoid relegation in the next seven months.

“I am 150 per cent confident,” he replied, when asked whether he still believed in his methods. “As I was in January, when the critics were saying the same and everyone was asking for different things. I always said I trusted and believed in myself, and I believe in my players.”

Tomorrow’s trip to the Emirates starts a daunting five-match run that will also see Boro face matches against Manchester City, Chelsea and Leicester, and if they are still out of the bottom three come the end of next month, they will have achieved some notable results.

Karanka accepts things are about to get much more difficult, but denies the current situation is the toughest he has faced since beginning his managerial career on Teesside three years ago.

“It was tougher at the beginning,” he said. “At the beginning, we were fighting to survive in the Championship and at that time I didn’t have the experience I have now, or the staff and players. Now, I am much better than I was three years ago.

“The situation is not the same, but it’s similar. I remember playing Millwall at the start of December and, at the beginning of the game, we were two points above the relegation position. Now, we are more or less in the same situation, but I am much better than I was that season.”

Karanka has no new injury problems to contend with ahead of the trip to the Emirates. Skipper Grant Leadbitter is back in training, but remains at least a couple of weeks away from a return to playing duties.