'I'm not interested in what they have to say': Fuming Chris Wilder hits out at 'sub-standard' Sheffield United after defeat to Leicester City

Chris Wilder was scathing in his criticism of Sheffield United’s performance during their defeat by Leicester City, accusing the players of lacking in “every part” of the game.
Sheffield United's manager Chris Wilder, left, shakes hands with Leicester's Jamie Vardy at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Sheffield United at the King Power Stadium, in Leicester, England, Thursday, July 16, 2020. (Michael Regan/Pool via AP)Sheffield United's manager Chris Wilder, left, shakes hands with Leicester's Jamie Vardy at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Sheffield United at the King Power Stadium, in Leicester, England, Thursday, July 16, 2020. (Michael Regan/Pool via AP)
Sheffield United's manager Chris Wilder, left, shakes hands with Leicester's Jamie Vardy at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Sheffield United at the King Power Stadium, in Leicester, England, Thursday, July 16, 2020. (Michael Regan/Pool via AP)

Although he absolved Dean Henderson of any responsibility for a result which leaves the visitors eighth in the Premier League table with two matches remaining - “If it wasn’t for him, we’d have lost by more” - Wilder reveled he had torn into his squad following the contest.

Speaking after goals from Ayoze Perez and Demarai Gray confirmed City’s qualification for Europe next term, Wilder said: “There weren’t any exchanges (in the dressing room) afterwards. Why? Because I’m not interested in what the players have to say,

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“I don’t get this thing about asking for the players’ opinions. Because I’ve seen what their opinion is with my own eyes, and there’s nothing wrong with them. What I’ve seen out there is a really poor performance.”

Wilder made three changes at half-time in an effort to shake United into life after Perez had given City the lead, with John Fleck, John Lundstram and Lys Mousset all being introduced before Billy Sharp also entered the fray.

“The introduction of the subs had no effect at all,” the United manager added. “All our players produced sub-standard performances. Any one of them, other than Dean, could easily have come off.

“So there wasn’t any exchange of views afterwards. And there won’t be either.”

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United, who host Everton on Monday before concluding their fixture schedule with a trip to Southampton, actually made the brighter start at the King Power Stadium - with David McGoldrick firing over the crossbar following an interchange between Oliver Norwood and George Baldock. But from that moment on, City dominated with Henderson, who twice denied Harvey Barnes, unable to prevent Gray sealing City’s win after Perez had opened the scoring.

“It wasn’t the result or the performance we wanted,” Wilder said. “We were way off it. We deservedly got beat. Our goalkeeper has kept us in it and I’m delighted to walk away with only a 2-0. We lacked in every part of the game you need to get a result.”