Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder on his own future ahead of Manchester United clash

Chris Wilder has addressed his own future as Sheffield United manager, explaining why owner HRH Prince Abdullah bin Musa’ad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud confirmed he does not plan to make a change even if the club are relegated despite West Bromwich Albion’s decision to dispense with Slaven Bilic’s services.
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Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s game against Manchester United at Bramall Lane, Wilder accepted there will be “talk” about his position following a disappointing start to the season which has seen the South Yorkshire club slide to the bottom of the table after losing 11 of its last 12 matches.

Bilic was relieved of his duties yesterday, with his West Brom team one place and six points above United in the rankings.

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Prince Abdullah used an interview over the weekend to insist he wants Wilder to remain in post regardless of how the rest of the campaign unfolds - with defender George Baldock the latest senior player to welcome the Saudi Arabian’s intervention.

Chris Wilder has spoken about his own future at Sheffield United in the wake of Slaven Bilic's departure from West Bromwich Albion: David Klein/SportimageChris Wilder has spoken about his own future at Sheffield United in the wake of Slaven Bilic's departure from West Bromwich Albion: David Klein/Sportimage
Chris Wilder has spoken about his own future at Sheffield United in the wake of Slaven Bilic's departure from West Bromwich Albion: David Klein/Sportimage

“Every situation is different,” Wilder said, expressing his sympathy for Bilic and describing the Croat as a “great football” personality. “It’s quite easy just to come out and say when a team isn’t doing well ‘let’s change’.

“Every situation, every club is different. We sign players on three year contracts because we believe they are good enough for the next three years. We don’t sign them on 10 game contracts. I’m not precious enough to think there won’t be talk about me. But when you dig deep into a club and realise what is going on, for the owners to make the decision they have made, I respect that.

“It’s tough for managers because they are in the game and it’s tough at every level. Especially when you don’t win games of football.”

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United, who will hand a late fitness test to striker Oli McBurnie before deciding their starting eleven for the meeting with the visitors from Old Trafford, have suffered seven straight defeats since drawing with Fulham two months ago. Wilder, who inherited a squad languishing in League One after being appointed in the summer of 2016, accepts United require “lots of big performances” to survive but remains convinced a team which finished ninth last term, only a season after being promoted from the Championship, can defy the odds once again.

Chris Wilder shakes hands with Sheffield United owner H.R.H. Prince Abdullah after signing a new contract: Simon Bellis/SportimageChris Wilder shakes hands with Sheffield United owner H.R.H. Prince Abdullah after signing a new contract: Simon Bellis/Sportimage
Chris Wilder shakes hands with Sheffield United owner H.R.H. Prince Abdullah after signing a new contract: Simon Bellis/Sportimage

“From my point of view, I’m not precious or arrogant to think that the results from us all have been good enough,” he said. “And I have to take full responsibility for that. I appreciate the owner saying it but my full focus is trying to turn around results.

“Every football club has got its own story and I think our football club is maybe different to other people’s stories. I personally haven’t been doing as well as I should be doing, and the players haven’t been doing as well as they should be doing, in terms of getting results for this football club. Historically, we aren't an established Premier League club but we are fighting to change that around."

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