Chris Wilder has returned to Sheffield United for a third spell as manager, expressing his deep connection to the club and vowing to restore its fighting spirit. He acknowledges the challenging situation but remains optimistic about turning things around.
Chris Wilder has expressed his deep connection to Sheffield United, stating that he likely wouldn’t have returned to manage any other club in a similar situation. The Blades recently reappointed Wilder as their manager on Monday, a mere three months after his initial departure and the subsequent sacking of Ruben Selles.
Selles’ tenure was short-lived and unsuccessful, with the Championship club suffering six consecutive defeats under his leadership, culminating in a demoralizing 5-0 loss at Ipswich. This dismal run left the team at the bottom of the league table.
Speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield, Wilder emphasized the unique bond he shares with the club. “Possibly yeah,” he responded when asked if he would have declined an offer from any other team. “This is a special and unique club for me.” He clarified that his return wasn’t motivated by a desire for an apology from the club’s owners.
“I wasn’t looking for an apology,” Wilder stated. “I’m not looking to come in here and be smug about the situation. It’s my football club and we’re bottom of the division. We’ve played six, lost six, that is not a good place. There’s a lack of respect to the football club which has to be owned at the moment. I have to help the players and change that around.”
Wilder’s return marks his third stint as manager of his hometown team. He previously led the Blades from League One to the Premier League between 2016 and 2021, a period of remarkable success for the club. There had been speculation surrounding the reasons for his earlier exit, with reports suggesting a disagreement with the American owners, COH Sports, regarding the use of AI in recruitment. However, Wilder expressed optimism about his recent conversations with the ownership group.
“They could have gone in another direction and they didn’t, so huge respect to them on that,” he said. “I enjoyed my conversations with the owners when there was the possibility of coming back and collaborating with them. There’s a lot of talk about AI and whatever but I always think it’s a collaboration of everything. I love working with people. The attitude of the owners to initially approach me and have that chat sort of gives a good feel and vibe about the place.”
Wilder acknowledged that the current situation demands immediate attention and a shift in mentality. He emphasized that the players must take responsibility for their performances. “The players have to accept some responsibility for that,” he added. “Bottom of the league for duels, bottom three or four in running stats… The game doesn't change. The fight in the players has to be shown and that shows they're not fighting and they're not running around.”
He also stressed the importance of playing players in their natural positions, hinting at a potential recall for Gus Hamer, last season’s Championship player of the year, who was benched in the recent defeat at Ipswich. “Gus is a player that I love and we need him at the top of the pitch. We don't need him in a different position,” Wilder stated. “Whether he plays as a 10 or off the side. Combinations, slide balls, crosses, assists, goals, big moments… He's arguably the best player in the division.”
The first match of Wilder’s third spell will be a home fixture against Charlton Athletic on Saturday. Despite the team’s challenging start to the season, with no goals scored since the opening weekend, Wilder anticipates an “electric” atmosphere at Bramall Lane. The Blades are currently four points adrift of safety and nine points behind the promotion playoff places.
Historically, no team in EFL history has ever recovered from losing their first five games to achieve promotion. However, Wilder remains optimistic. “It’s not impossible,” he said. “Statistically it has been shown that teams in our position can win games and go on a run. We’re not in a great position at the moment so it’s small steps. First and foremost we need to make sure we get every day right and that includes yesterday and today and to be fair they have been outstanding.”
Wilder concluded by reiterating his commitment to restoring the team’s fundamental principles. “Sheffield United is not a team that is bottom of the division for duels or running distances,” he asserted. “We all know what a good Sheffield United team looks like and getting back to the basic principles. It isn't old school, it's right school.”
(Embedded YouTube video showcasing Wilder's first interview upon his return)