Sheffield United Fan's Column: Opposition managers give us respect

To remind you, Rowett said; “Today was a game too far for us, but I think Sheffield United make that happen, they are a good team with good energy.”

Phil Parkinson (Bolton) said: “Sheffield United are a very front-footed team, they are cavalier in the way they approach the game.”

Chris Coleman (Sunderland): “We were up against a Sheffield United team (that was) stronger, quicker and looked hungrier, fitter.”

Alex Neil (Preston): “Sheffield United’s system and how hard they work as a team makes it very difficult to play with any sort of fluency, because they are very in your face.”

Lee Johnson (Bristol City): “I thought Sheffield United were outstanding. I had to change the shape three times and that was due to Sheffield United’s relentless quality.”

Steve Cotterill (Birmingham City): “They’re a good team, they’ve got a great spirit about them and a way of playing that is hard to play against.”

Slaviša Jokanović (Fulham): “Sheffield United are a top team and have my respect.”

It says a lot that many established Championship teams have changed their system to match-up with United’s 3-5-2 over the course of the season.

But my favourite comment by a manager this season comes from Chris Wilder, who after the New Year’s Day game at Derby said: “I enjoy watching us play.”

I have never heard any manager say that about his own team in all the decades I have been watching football. That says everything about how United have performed nearly every game in the last season and a half.