Michael Carrick has played down claims that Middlesbrough’s decision to sell Emmanuel Latte Lath was the defining moment in their failed push for the Championship play-offs.
The Ivorian striker departed the Riverside in January, completing a £22.5 million switch to Major League Soccer side Atlanta United. At the time of his exit, Boro sat sixth in the table and looked well placed for a top-six finish. However, they won just five of their remaining 18 league fixtures, ultimately slumping to a tenth-place finish.
Latte Lath was one of only three Middlesbrough players to hit double figures in goals last season, despite leaving midway through the campaign. His pace and goal threat were sorely missed in the closing months, especially as his replacement—Sevilla loanee Kelechi Iheanacho—struggled to find form, scoring just once in 15 appearances.
Carrick Rejects Notion
But Carrick has rejected the notion that Latte Lath’s departure was the primary reason for Boro’s slide down the table.
“You can look at all sorts of things,” Carrick said. “In football, you lose players at times—whether that’s because of a transfer, injury or suspension. That’s part of it. We’ve lost players over time here and that’s just how it is.
“You deal with it, and you move on. I believe we had a good enough group to manage that.” “I don’t think it’s a one player thing. It’s about us all collectively as a group. In the end, over the course of the whole season, we ended up not getting enough to achieve what we wanted to.”
Despite the club’s second-half struggles, Carrick has indicated a strong desire to remain in charge at the Riverside. He reiterated that message following the final-day defeat to Coventry City, which confirmed the club’s position outside the play-off places.
Middlesbrough’s hierarchy is now carrying out a comprehensive post-season review, assessing key areas before plotting their strategy for the 2025/26 campaign. Carrick’s future is expected to be high on the agenda as the board considers how best to move forward after an underwhelming year.
Writer’s View
While Emmanuel Latte Lath’s sale undoubtedly removed a vital attacking outlet from Boro’s ranks, Michael Carrick is right to focus on the wider context. The team’s post-January form exposed broader issues—tactical inconsistency, limited squad depth, and missed chances across the pitch.
Carrick’s insistence on collective accountability may serve him well if he is to remain at the helm, but with a summer of decisions looming, Boro must learn from this campaign’s unraveling if they are to challenge again.
