'This is everything, this is our season' - Chris Basham on Sheffield United's FA Cup quarter-final clash against Chelsea

At the bottom of the Premier League table and travelling to west London 14 points adrift of safety, reaching the later stages of the competition has provided Basham and his team mates with a welcome distraction from the rigors of what has been a disastrous campaign in South Yorkshire.

Things went from bad to worse last weekend when, only 24 hours after it was announced Wilder’s reign was at an end, United suffered a humiliating 5-0 defeat by Leicester City; prompting one high-profile commentator and former professional to suggest their players had thrown in the towel.

Although that comment was motivated more by a desire to create headlines than provide an accurate assessment on events behind the scenes at Bramall Lane, Basham admitted: “The most important game for a lot of us will be this weekend. That’s not to put pressure on anybody or us as a football club, but it’s so important because it’s what we’ve got left.

“We’ve got something to live for, something to say we were involved in the quarters and then hopefully a semi-final too.

“There’s loads of pride at stake. In the league and also to succeed in the cup, so we can give the fans something to cheer about because nothing so far has gone our way. There’s pride individually and there’s pride in the people behind us. We need to prove to ourselves that we’ve got the pride and the courage to reach the next round.”

United must look to channel that sense of purpose as they attempt to become the first team to beat Chelsea since Thomas Tuchel’s appointment two months ago. Having beaten Bristol Rovers, Plymouth Argyle and Bristol City en route to Stamford Bridge, the meeting with the eight time holders represents United’s toughest challenge of this term’s tournament so far. Particularly as Paul Heckinbottom, placed in temporary charge following Wilder’s exit, is likely to be without a number of important players, including Ethan Ampadu, who is on loan from the hosts.

John Egan, Jack O’Connell and Sander Berge, whose involvement in Norway’s forthcoming internationals will be limited to a watching brief, are among the other absentees although David McGoldrick could feature after resuming training following a knee complaint. Phil Jagielka, whose brother Steve passed away this week, has also declared himself available for selection with Heckingbottom requesting journalists and fans afford the defender and his family “a little privacy”.

“Jags is wanting normality,” he said. “Us, as a team and a staff, we just want to be there for him. He wants to focus on the football and I ask that of you guys as well. Because we don’t know what he’s going through. He wants to be left alone about it if I’m honest.”

Basham, who joined United soon after their semi-final meeting with Hull City in 2014, admitted Tuchel’s men will start as favourites. But, with matches still being staged behind closed doors because of the Covid-19 pandemic, he insisted Heckingbottom’s squad can spring an upset.

“We’ve got to put things into perspective, it’s against Chelsea and we know it’s going to be tough and that we’re underdogs,” Basham said. “But we’re taking this cup really seriously because it’s something we’re part of. The atmosphere in the stadiums is calmer now but it won’t be calm in the dressing room because of what we’ll be putting in. Can we take that next step?”

“If everyone steps up to the plate and gets eights and nines out of ten, then we’ve got a chance because we’ve got a lot of quality still and lads ready to step off the bench,” he continued. “We’ve got a few members of staff we want to play in front of as well.”

A veteran of the teams Wilder led from the third to the first tier of English football after being appointed in 2016, Basham is still waiting to discover who will be handed the unenviable task of replacing the 53-year-old as the search for his successor continues. Jason Tindall, previously assistant manager and manager of AFC Bournemouth, is preparing to make his first appearance in the United dug-out after joining Heckingbottom’s staff earlier this week. Alan Knill, Wilder’s number two, remains on United’s pay roll for the time being at least.

“Jason has been good,” Heckingbottom said. “He only came in and met the boys on Tuesday. He’s in until the end of the season. It’s a different voice. A different person for the players to lean on.”

Basham, who was on target against Argyle in the fourth round, believes a victory over a Chelsea side laden with world class talent would have an even more positive effect upon United than their win at the Memorial Stadium in January. Having entered that fixture without a win all season, United enjoyed a brief renaissance by also beating Manchester United, Newcastle and West Bromwich Albion in their next six outings.

“I don’t even think we were favourites to win, because of the run we’d been on,” he said. “The mindset at the time was just to get a result, no matter how we did it. We’d waited so long and it did kick-start the season in a little way too.”

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