Aitor Karanka has said that Jose Mourinho's presence at the Championship match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Middlesbrough on Saturday brought his side luck.

Mourinho, just two days after he parted company with Chelsea, turned up at The Amex to watch the top-of-the-table Championship showdown that Boro won convincingly 3-0 to secure top spot at Christmas and end Brighton's 21-match unbeaten start to the season.

Karanka previously worked with Mourinho as his assistant at Real Madrid and revealed that he visited the dressing room to congratulate his former right-hand man.

"Jose brought us luck," Karanka told reporters. "We worked together at Real Madrid and it was an amazing experience.

"He is a friend of mine. I didn't tell the players that he would be watching but it wasn't a secret.

"Afterwards, he came into the dressing room to offer congratulations. He felt he had watched a really good team and he was impressed with us. He was the best and he will be the best."

Mourinho, who is reportedly keen on taking over at Manchester United, has been succeeded at Chelsea by Guus Hiddink.