'They’re putting their bodies on the line' - Chris Wilder's reaction after 3-0 victory over Chelsea ramps up Sheffield United's European push

David McGoldrick scored a brace, his first Premier League goals, either side of Oli McBurnie’s header.

Here’s how Chris Wilder reacted after the game.

Backing it up

"A really good performance and it had to be; to get a result against Chelsea with the players they have and the form they're in,” said Wilder.

"We had to back it up after the Wolves game. We put a lot of effort into the Wolves game, with our desire to get a win, and we had to follow that up tonight.

"I don't want a spike team and to get the results we have this year, we've had to be consistent in our approach.

"We took our chances, the bit in the middle was dominated by them but in both boxes, we defended fabulously and were clinical when we had the opportunity to stick the ball in the back of their net. It's been a great a big week for us.”

Don’t mention Europe!

But the Blades boss once again refused to discuss the E word despite seeing his side move up to sixth place and just four points behind Manchester United.

“(We) just (move) onto the next game (at Leicester on Thursday), no-one's talking about Europe,” he said.

"It's only the media talking about it. It's nothing from our point of view, we're just after another performance.”

The squad is stretched

The win was United’s third in four games after an initial slow start to Project Restart which saw them lose successive matches to Newcastle United and Manchester United in the opening week of football’s return post-lockdown – which also coincided with the absence of key men Jack O’Connell and John Fleck.

"They look like they're enjoying their football and they're putting their bodies on the line,” said Wilder. “We're pretty stretched as a squad but we're leaving it out there. We're at it and we'll need to be at Leicester on Thursday.

“Everyone has their strengths and things the other team think they can exploit. They have some fabulous players and we had to be right up there today.

"We had a plan, we had to be structured, disciplined and aggressive and we had to be clinical as well. There was a desire to keep the ball out of the net and the goals we scored, and the timing of them, was fabulous from our point of view.”

The man of the moment

Wilder was also full of praise for two-goal hero McGoldrick, who produced a man of the match showing in scoring his first goals in the top flight.

“He scored goals in our promotion and the attitude he has and the work ethic, to be a fans favourite at this climb you've got to tick a lot of boxes,” said Wilder.

"He’s got to work hard and compete and has ability, too.

"The way he's come through this period without scoring and still being right up there in people's thoughts, just shows what he's all about.

"He peddles that about being on trial, he didn't come in on trial. We invited him to tick a box and that shows what he's about as a person and as a player, and he deserves every reward tonight because it's been a difficult little period for him.

"But we know he brings something to the team and to get two goals is brilliant for David.”

Foxes up next

And with just three games remaining of a remarkable return to Premier League football after a 12-year absence, the United manager is refusing to look beyond Thursday’s trip to the King Power Stadium.

"It's dangerous to get carried away and start thinking you're this, that or the other,” said Wilder, whose side’s final two games are at home to Everton and away at Southampton.

"The game finds you out if you take your foot off the gas but we're enjoying the challenge. Leicester have been fabulous this year and we'll have to roll out another good performance to get any sort of result.”

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