Wilder won’t shy away from criticising Blades stars

Wilder won’t shy away from criticising Blades stars

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder says he will not hold back from telling his players how it is following their 3-1 defeat to Milwall.

The manager received some criticism following the defeat after he suggested that some of his players had become complacent, with his team exceeding expectations following the club’s impressive start to life back in the Championship.

However, Wilder says he will not shy his players away from the truth, insisting that improvements must be made in their next game against Bristol City.

United have been brilliant so far this season, but in recent weeks have allowed their form to slip. The defeat to Milwall was a bitter pill to swallow for all, and Wilder says he will not hold back from saying how it is.

“It’s how I manage. I’m going to say it like it is. There’s been a lot of plaudits going around,” he said ahead of the Bristol City clash.

“If I haven’t enjoyed watching my team, they have to know that. I speak more positively about my team than possibly any manager in this division. I love the attitude of the group, I love the way they drive the game forward, I love the way they go about it.

“But they also have to see the other side. If players do get carried away, it needs nipping and nipping hard.

“I don’t want people thinking all we have to do is turn up and others roll over.

“That we can play around people rather than go through them first. Ever since I’ve been a manager, you have to compete, you have to win tackles, headers and races to get a result. Then, there’s got to be something on the end of it. If you don’t do enough, you open it up for the opposition.

“If you give an opportunity to the opposing team, to stick it on you, not to win the first ball or get on the second, they get up a head of steam. The character of the team is good and it always has been good. We got back on level terms against Millwall and, second-half, we should have stepped on the gas. But the goals we conceded were c**p. The goals were poor.

The Blades now find themselves 10 points off league leaders Wolves, but Wilder believes there is still more to come from his side.

“We didn’t do enough when we were on top,” said. “They did. We’ll dissect the game but we knew what was happening. I don’t want us to be a spike team but our last performance was a spike performance. We’ve got so much more to do to progress and get better.”
[Quotes via The Star]