Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka insists that, despite his team hovering just outside of the relegation zone, life is easier now than when he just took over at the club.
The newly-promoted Boro got off to a decent start to life back in the Premier League, but their latest defeat to Watford has left them in 17th place, with only goal difference keeping them above 18th-placed Stoke City.
With games against Arsenal, Bournemouth, Manchester City, Chelsea and Leicester City coming up, things could get a lot worse. But Karanka claims that this period hasn't been the toughest since joining the club.
"I think it was tougher at the beginning," he said via theDaily Mail.
"At the beginning, we were not in the same situation, but we were fighting to survive in the Championship and at that time I didn't have the experience that I have now, I didn't have the players I have now, I didn't have the staff I have now.
"Now I am much better than I was three years ago and the situation is not the same, but it is similar. I remember when we played against Millwall away in November, December - at the beginning of that game, we were two points above the relegation positions.
"Now we are more or less in the same situation and again, now I am much better than I was that season."
League Goals this season:
Dwight Gayle - 11
Middlesbrough - 7
Sunderland - 6 pic.twitter.com/kJaRrasRaX
The 43-year-old Spaniard also urged his squad to stay positive,keep believing and to trust his work.
Last year, we were used to winning five in six," he added."This season, we are winning one in nine or ten but we knew it would be tough.
We've been working hard for two years to be in this position so we need to enjoy it and grow.I think it's important to stay positive, keep believing in ourselves and trust in my work.�