Aitor Karanka has insisted that he never planned to quit as manager of Middlesbrough and is now hopeful of getting the club's promotion push back on track.
The Spaniard was expected to depart the Riverside Stadium this week after storming out of a training session last Friday amid talks of a row in the squad.
Karanka has now held clear-the-air talks with his group of players, having sat out the 2-0 defeat to Charlton Athletic at the weekend, and is looking to put a line under the fallout.
Speaking to the club's official website, the ex-Real Madrid coach said: "I had a meeting today with the players and the staff because we have to be together. It's the only way we can achieve our aim [of promotion]. I couldn't put the crowd in the room as it was too small.
"I think the club and me had everything clear. The club never thought to sack me and I never wanted to leave. I think the passion the people have supporting this club is amazing. Now I am much stronger because they gave me that energy.
"I would like to get promotion and it is now in our hands, especially after what happened on Sunday. I always said the crowd is behind me at this club and if I am proud of something it is because when we came here two years ago we had 10,000 to 12,000 at the stadium and now we have at least 22,000."
Boro, currently second in the Championship, will look to bounce back from their recent setback when they take on fellow promotion hopefuls Hull City on Friday.
Daniel Lewis
