In his second stint in the dug-out at Bramall Lane, Chris Wilder witnessed a performance reminiscent of his successful Blades teams of the past, characterised by intensity and full commitment against Liverpool, despite a 2-0 loss.
While it served as a starting point, the challenge continues with a quick turnaround, facing Brentford on Saturday, less than 72 hours after Wednesday’s match. It’s not a free hit this time, and Wilder, known for his intolerance of excuses, expects the same effort displayed in midweek to be upheld.
Prior to the match, Wilder emphasised the importance of his players earning the trust of fans again, particularly after disappointing performances against Burnley and Bournemouth, and it’s safe to say they did that against Liverpool.
Wilder said after the game on SUTV:
“Don’t kid and fool me that this is what we are all about (all the time). Because I will suss it out straightaway.
“They were great with everything we have asked to do (before), but don’t fool me and think that’s a one-off ‘manager bounce’ and me going back here and all that.
“It’s a quick turnaround and they put an incredible amount of effort into that game.”
Even though United suffered another defeat, the reaction from the fans after the game suggested they were pleased with the performance, and to be honest, the Blades were harshly dealt with on Wednesday evening. But, they also should be held responsible with their lack of decisiveness in the final third.
Wilder stated:
“If the players produce those types of performances, it’s going to make it interesting. That’s the aim and key, to find that consistency.”
