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Aitor Karanka: Norwich were the better team in the play-off final

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After losing to Norwich in the Sky Bet Championship play-off, Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka claims it was not the right time for promotion

Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka admitted that his team did not deserve to beat Norwich in the Championship play-off final at Wembley - but vowed the club would come back stronger.

Boro did the double over the Canaries in the regular season but Karanka saw his side undone by a first-half blitz, Cameron Jerome striking in the 12th minute before Nathan Redmond extended what proved an unassailable lead.

“It is difficult because this team has done everything this season to get promotion but football is football," Karanka told Sky Sports.

"We beat them twice but today they were better. They didn’t make mistakes. We made two mistakes and in a final you pay for those mistakes.

“I think we have to be proud of the players and of this crowd. For me it is amazing to be here. It is not our moment now. We were not ready.

"This season was a big step forward from last season and we have to keep going in the same way because this club, this crowd and this city deserves to be in the Premier League so I am going to start preparing for next season tomorrow because that is my job.” 

"We didn't get promotion this season, so hopefully next season."

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