Sheffield United boss sends bizarre message to squad ahead of Reading FC clash
The Blades boss has some harsh words for his players in the run up to Tuesday's game
Blades manager Chris Wilder. Credit: Eddie Greville
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has issued some bizarre remarks to his squad in the run up to their game with Reading FC.
The two sides clash under the lights at Madejski Stadium on Tuesday evening (8pm kick-off).
The Blades go into the game on the back of a shock 1-0 defeat at Championship strugglers Hull City and rather than demanding a strong response from his players, Wilder claims not to care if there is a reaction or not from them.
"I’m not bothered what I see to be honest [from the players against Reading]," he said.
"I don’t give two whatsits. I’m not bothered if they show a reaction.
"The game against Hull hurt me. I’m not being a spoilt kid but I thought we were loads better than what we showed there, so I don’t care what they show.
"I don’t care if there’s a reaction. That was the biggest game of the season by a million miles and we’ve not turned up and made **** decisions."
Wilder's side lie eighth in the Championship table following the loss at the KCOM Stadium. It was the Blades' 13th loss of the season and leaves them on 52 points, two short of a play-off place.
The Blades made a storming start to the season having come up from League One, but their form has dropped in recent months, picking up just four league wins since mid November.
Hull claimed a shock 1-0 win over Sheffield United on Friday night. Credit: Getty Images
Wilder says it is down to his players to get a positive result in the rearranged fixture at the Mad Stad, which was postponed from earlier in the month due to United's FA Cup involvement.
"I am not wasting energy on the players. I will not motivate them from now on in," said the manager.
"I will see what they are all about. People know what we have got to change. I will come in and be professional, but it is over to them.
"You should not always need motivating from a manager. Arguably, with the situation we were in, I should be able to just sit back and let them go but clearly I cannot.
"I thought we always gave ourselves a chance during games but obviously I was wrong.
"I cannot put my finger on it so I have to decide do I make changes [against Reading] or do I go the same again and ask those responsible to put it right?"
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