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Aitor Karanka has spoken for the first time since staying on as Middlesbrough FC head coach following a weekend of uncertainty.

The Spaniard was reported to have stormed out of a team meeting on Friday after a fallout with some senior players, and did not take charge of Boro's defeat at Charlton on Sunday.

Steve Agnew instead led Boro at The Valley, but last night in a 44-word statement, Boro confirmed that Karanka will resume his role as head coach "with immediate effect".

And the Boro boss has spoken to the club's website for the first time since the weekend's uncertainty.

"It's been a strange few days for the people who have not been involved in the situation, as I think the club and me had everything clear," Karanka said.

"I want to make it clear that the club never thought to sack me, I never wanted to leave. The best thing is that I was supporting or helping from my house as we are a team, even in the worst moment.

"I heard a lot of stupid things - that i was laughing at home. It's amazing for me to express what I'd like to express, as to hear that I've had problems with players in this training room when they've given me every single thing (is surprising).

"If I'm in the position where I am now and the team is now (high in the league table), it's down to the (players). It's difficult to understand a lot of things.

"I've been a manager for just two years but one thing I have clear is that I would leave a changing room (if) I go home and I don't feel the confidence of the players.

"This was not the case and I'm going to fight for these players and for this club, as I have until this moment.

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"It's no laughing (matter). When I hear something that hurts my family who are in Spain, it was hard for them as they couldn't believe it and they felt I hadn't told them the truth as I wanted to protect them.

"When they felt I was calm at home it was difficult for them but it's passed, we have to look forward. We have an amazing month in front of us, an amazing game at home, so we have to keep going."

When asked whether he wanted to give Boro fans a message, Karanka insisted the club is in a great position and thanked the supporters for their unrelenting support.

(Image: Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

"I want to say thanks. It's curious for me as sometimes the people say I'm criticising the crowd or if I said (something) really well about the players, it's because I'm in this position now thanks to them.

"But I've said that the crowd is always behind this club. If I'm proud of something, it's when I arrived here two years ago and we had 12,000 at the stadium.

"Now we have 22,000 and we have many thousands at home supporting Middlesbrough.

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"The passion that the people have supporting this club is amazing. I was strong after what happened on Sunday because I was watching the game at home, and it's true sometimes you hear bad things, but this time I heard a lot of good things.

"If I was strong, now I'm much stronger because the (fans) gave me that energy.

"If I wanted to get promotion when I came here, imagine (how much I want it) now that it's in our hands and after Sunday."