'There's a few I don't get on with' - Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder lifts the lid on his relationship with Wolves' Nuno Espirito Santo and other Premier League bosses

An hour or so before Sheffield United’s penultimate training session ahead of their game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Chris Wilder was a worried man.
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After lavishing praise on Nuno Espirito Santo, and having done the same to Burnley’s Sean Dyche, the 52-year-old expressed concerns people might think he is becoming overly sentimental.

Nothing, it quickly became apparent, could be further from the truth.

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“There’s a few I don’t get on with, just remember that,” Wilder smiled, referring to his relationships with other Premier League managers. “I try to get on with everyone but I don’t want to sound as if I’m all over everyone in this division. There’s quite a few that look at and think ‘I’m not so sure about you, pal.’ Trust me. That’s definitely the case.”

Although Wilder declined to name those he’s got his suspicions about, Nuno isn’t one of them. The two don’t regard themselves as close mates. They are very different characters. But when it comes to football, the Portuguese certainly commands Wilder’s respect.

“Nuno won’t understand some of my frustrations because he’s far too chilled for that,” Wilder, who has spent the build up to tonight’s match railing against perceived injustices and working out how best to utilise an injury depleted squad. “I think it’s his background probably.

“He’s probably got the ideal personality for this business. He’s as cool as a cucumber off the pitch but he isn’t on the sidelines."

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Neil Warnock, Wilder’s predecessor at Bramall Lane, discovered as much two years ago when Wolves beat his then employers Cardiff City en route to promotion from the Championship. Now in charge of Middlesbrough, Warnock labelled his opposite number “a disgrace” for not shaking his hand before launching into a wild celebration. Although the former United chief later backtracked, he described Nuno’s coaching staff as “probably the worst on the touchline” during a game.

Sheffield United's manager Chris Wilder is preparing to lead his team into battle against Premier League rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers at Bramall Lane: Peter Powell/Pool Photo via APSheffield United's manager Chris Wilder is preparing to lead his team into battle against Premier League rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers at Bramall Lane: Peter Powell/Pool Photo via AP
Sheffield United's manager Chris Wilder is preparing to lead his team into battle against Premier League rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers at Bramall Lane: Peter Powell/Pool Photo via AP

“He’s passionate, Nuno,” Wilder said, providing his own take on the incident. “I’ve got no issue with that, celebrate as much as you want."

United prepared for tomorrow’s meeting with Wolves in eighth, two place and four points behind the visitors from Molineux - where Wilder’s men drew 1-1 earlier this term. Lys Mousset scored the opening goal with less than three minutes on the clock and led until Matt Doherty equalised midway through the second-half.

Twenty-two months earlier, 10 after being crowned League One champions and 10 before they also secured top-flight status, Wilder admitted United had been “pummelled” during a 3-0 defeat in the Black Country. Privately, it is a source of great pride behind the scenes at the South Yorkshire club that they enter this evening’s contest on Wolves’ coat-tails.

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“Listen, off the pitch, they’re a long way in front of us, with everything that’s gone off there,” Wilder said, reminding how Nuno is effectively employed by Fosun - a Chinese conglomerate and investment company which owns stakes in brands such as Tsingtao, Club Med and Cirque de Soleil. “But what we’ve got to do is try and close that gap in our own way.”

Nuno Espirito Santo, Manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers gives his team instructions during a drinks break in the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal FC at Molineux on July 04, 2020: Catherine Ivill/Getty ImagesNuno Espirito Santo, Manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers gives his team instructions during a drinks break in the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal FC at Molineux on July 04, 2020: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
Nuno Espirito Santo, Manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers gives his team instructions during a drinks break in the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal FC at Molineux on July 04, 2020: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

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