Sheffield United manager talks about Sean Dyche and reveals his other most trusted confidants

Last summer, on a particularly balmy evening in the Portuguese resort of Almancil, visitors to one of restaurants lining its coastline spotted two Premier League managers deep in conversation at a corner table.
Chris Wilder manager of Sheffield Utd speaking during a press conference at the Steelphalt Academy, Sheffield. Picture date: 12th March 2020. Picture credit should read: Simon Bellis/SportimageChris Wilder manager of Sheffield Utd speaking during a press conference at the Steelphalt Academy, Sheffield. Picture date: 12th March 2020. Picture credit should read: Simon Bellis/Sportimage
Chris Wilder manager of Sheffield Utd speaking during a press conference at the Steelphalt Academy, Sheffield. Picture date: 12th March 2020. Picture credit should read: Simon Bellis/Sportimage

There, as they sipped ice cold Sagres and picked at the complimentary snacks, Chris Wilder and Sean Dyche shared only one topic of conversation. Football wasn’t, it transpires, on the menu.

“Basically it went: ‘Your round Chris. Your round Sean.’ That’s what we were talking about,” Wilder laughs, remembering that dinner date with his counterpart from Burnley. “You don’t think we were talking about work do you? Well if you do, then you’re wrong.”

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Fifteen months after leading Sheffield United out of the Championship and 12 since choosing the same Algarve village as Burnley to prepare his squad for the new campaign, Wilder is once again looking forward to spending time in Dyche’s company following tomorrow’s fixture at Turf Moor.

Although the match is of crucial importance to both teams - United, who climbed to seventh in the table following Thursday’s win over Tottenham Hotspur, are only two points ahead of their latest opponents - the respect between the two men set to face each other inside the technical area will not be affected by the result.

Although Wilder has described Burnley as the most talked about club inside Bramall Lane’s bootroom - “What they’ve done, in terms of building, consistency and bringing money into the club, establishing themselves at this level, that’s who we should be looking to follow” - there are obvious distinctions too.

“There’s different ways of going about it isn’t there,” Wilder said. “Five plus two equals seven and so does four plus three. The most important thing is trying to play effective football, and that’s where we are the same.

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“When Sean names a team, he’ll be confident that he’s going to get everything out of the players he puts onto the pitch. In that regard, we are the same.

(Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)(Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

“We’ve got different set-ups and different systems. But I’ve never got too hooked up on stuff like that and I know Sean hasn’t either. Dear me, I’m beginning to sound as if I’m subscribing to the Sean Dyche fan club aren’t I. Well, I’m not ashamed to say I’m in it.”

Burnley are now approaching the end of their fourth straight season as a top-flight club, after being promoted for the second time under Dyche in 2016.

Dyche is among a small coterie of managers whose advice Wilder sought when United waved goodbye to the Championship last term.

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“He’s a good guy, Sean,” Wilder said. “I phoned him when we went up, yes, and he picked up the phone. There are some guys you can do that too. Steve Bruce is another one, up at Newcastle. I spoke to him, had a chat about a few things as well, and I really appreciate stuff like that.”

Wilder was also able to pick Jose Mourinho’s brains following Thursday’s win over Tottenham Hotspur, with the former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Internazionale manager searching out Wilder after the final whistle to congratulate him on United’s performance.

“He was a class act, Jose,” Wilder continued, “He hung around and came in to look for me afterwards, even though I’d kept him waiting because of the media duties we have to do.

“I know a lot of managers who would probably have just given up and got straight on the coach home. I know about a dozen who probably would have done that. But he didn’t. He was a class act and he was humble.

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“Why wouldn’t I want to pick the brains of someone like him, with everything that he’s achieved? I always ask people who are used to working in the Premier League about it, like Sean, Steve and now Jose. I want to try and tap into that.”

After leading United out of the third tier and into the first since taking charge four years ago, Wilder has also become an inspiration for the latest generation of coaches forging careers in the English Football League.

“I’ve had the same number for about 25 years and I think half of Sheffield has probably got it,” he said. “Seriously, though, if anyone rings me up and wants help, I’m happy to give it if I can. Whatever help anybody needs, of course I’ll try and give it.”

“I’m always looking for little pointers and so, if I can give any answers, I’ll try and do that for others.

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“It’s a tough industry and a tough environment. But we all work away and try not to change.”

United will travel to Lancashire on the back of their best performance of the season so far, despite losing three in a row in all competitions following last month’s draw at Aston Villa. Speaking after Sunday’s FA Cup defeat by Arsenal, Wilder expressed his frustration at the ease with which some players go down at the merest hint of contact. Dyche has voiced similar concerns in recent years.

“We’re not changing the way we go about it, we’re not going to start diving or anything like that, in order to try and gain an advantage,” Wilder said. “We can’t, otherwise it just becomes a race to the bottom.

“Sean has brought this up at LMA meetings as well, because of the example it sets. There’s nothing wrong with a good challenge and that’s what the main stakeholders in the game, the fans, want to see - they want to see good tackles, good headers and good races.”

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“Take the other night, that was a brilliant battle between Oli McBurnie for us and Eric Dier for them,” Wilder added. “It was competitive and that’s what we’re after. If one of my players went over, I’d 100 per cent man it up and tell them to stop conning people. I know Sean would do the same.”

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