Middlesbrough caretaker manager Steve Agnew denies the players forced Aitor Karanka's dismissal.

Agnew has insisted there was no rift between Karanka and his players prior to the Spaniard being sacked by Middlesbrough on Thursday.

Asked if Karanka had been at odds with the playing squad, Agnew said: "No. Not at all."

He added: "The players always train well. They're probably the best group of players I've ever worked with in terms of their application and attitude towards everything they do."