MICHAEL Carrick's message to his Middlesbrough players at Port Vale was to grasp their big opportunity and while the head coach is well aware that his side will be the underdogs in the Carabao Cup semi-final, the Boro head coach says "anything can happen".

Boro booked their place in the last four of the League Cup with a comfortable and professional 3-0 victory at Port Vale on Tuesday night, a performance and result that thrilled Carrick.

It's 20 seasons on from Boro's historic 2004 Carling Cup win but Carrick insists he hasn't needed to use that success as inspiration and revealed what his message to the players was prior to the Vale Park victory.

"I’ll be honest, at this stage, I don’t think the lads need much inspiration," he said.

"They’re in a semi-final of a cup and that’s motivation enough. Jonny Howson, for example, must have been a pro for about 17 years and it’s his first semi-final. I spoke about that before the game. Sometimes throughout your career there are timings and you’ve got to make the most of them when they come your way. Sometimes that door opens and you’ve got to go through it. The boys definitely sprinted through that door tonight."

Asked what it means to Carrick to lead Boro to their first semi-final since that 2004 success, he said: "I'll be honest, it's more about the players and the staff and seeing the supporters. I'm in it to try and guide and help everyone. Seeing the joy and the sense of achievement is fantastic.

"There will be a build-up to the semi-finals now but for me the joy is seeing the boys playing like they're capable of playing. I love seeing that. And the supporters enjoying themselves."

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Boro will discover their semi-final opponents tonight with Liverpool and West Ham set to battle for the last spot after Chelsea and Fulham joined Carrick's side in advancing to the last four.

Carrick said: "Listen, it's two legs, it's all to play for. We'll look forward to it. Anything can happen. We're not stupid and we know whoever is left in the draw will probably want to play us and they'll see it as a chance to get to Wembley.

"We know that, but we'll look forward to it and give it everything we've got. It's a hell of an opportunity for us."

First for Boro is a string of crucial Championship games and Carrick will ensure his players turn their attention immediately to the task at hand.

He said: "That's the test. I don't worry about the boys in that respect. Their attitude and approach is first class.

"We might win some games, lose some games and draw some games but I can never question the dedication and character of the players. Because of the injuries we've had to chop and change a bit and that's never easy but the quality of the players I've never doubted. We'll have to do it again on Saturday which is a big, big game."