Chris Wilder exclusive interview: Sheffield United manager on the ‘simplistic’ components behind the Blades’ mean defensive record
Sky Sports exclusive: Sheffield United’s Chris Wilder on the club’s summer reset and the “simplistic” ingredients that
have led to their incredible defensive record; watch the Blades host Hull on Friday night, live on Sky Sports Football
and Main Event from 7.30pm; kick-off 8pm
This season, Sheffield United has played excellent defence.
Burnley’s 18 goals in 28 games, however, aren’t quite as impressive as those of its promotion rivals, who have
conceded an astonishingly high nine goals in the same period. In actuality, it is the third-best of the top four English
football leagues.
The fact that it comes after a season in which the Blades broke Premier League records for all the wrong reasons
makes it even more exciting for them and their fans.
The records for the most goals given up in a season (104), the most goals given up at home in a season (57), the worst
goal differential at home (-38), and the worst goal difference (-69, tied with Derby in 2007–08) are all inscribed with
their name.
It is assured to him that the conversation would thereafter turn out well.
When we fell behind Arsenal 5-0 at halftime, I was ecstatic. “It was an amazing sensation,” he remarks
“When they’re just running over the top of us, and 4-0 down after 20 minutes to Villa and Brighton and
stuff like that. Oh it’s painful.
“But when you’re living it, game in, game out and you see the ruthlessness of the division and how teams
find those moments of quality, that makes it the best division in the world – and you get exposed when
you’re not good enough.
“It’s a difficult place to be, quite a lonely place to be for a manager as well. But I’ve been in the game long
enough to know that wasn’t going to last forever and we needed a reset in the summer.”
As part of the reset, the backline changed – almost completely – in the summer. “A clean sweep,” as Wilder
puts it.
On the last day of the 2023–24 season, a back six consisting of Wes Foderingham, Jayden Bogle, Anel
Ahmedhodzic, Auston Trusty, Jack Robinson, and Max Lowe changed to a back five consisting of Michael
Cooper, Alfie Gilchrist, Harry Souttar, Ahmedhodzic, and Harrison Burrows for the team’s 1-0 victory
over Watford in the first game following the summer transfer window’s closure.
Lowe joined Steel City rivals Sheffield Wednesday on a free transfer, Bogle and Trusty were sold to Leeds
and Celtic, respectively, while Foderingham did the same at West Ham.
Additionally, the play is different, with a back four being utilised nearly all the time.
“We never designed our group to be a counter-attacking team sitting in and hitting people on the break;
we want to control possession and we want to create chances,” Wilder explains.
“We’ve had to get it right to give ourselves the chance to win games, which we are, and I don’t believe it’s
old school. I just think it’s correct school that you have to get both sides of the game right and out of
possession.
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