Middlesbrough boss, Jonathan Woodgate, has explained how Chris Wilder’s comments following the Blades’ loss to Liverpool resonated with him.
Woodgate was speaking after seeing his team draw with Premier League Spurs in the FA Cup. It was another positive result for the Boro boss, who has seen a change in fortune at the Riverside of late.
And the former Leeds and Real Madrid defender explained how what Wilder said in midweek had played on his mind.
“I saw Chris Wilder’s interview the other day against Liverpool. He spoke about doing the basics of the game, running, fighting, second balls, winning your headers and winning your tackles,” Woodgate said (Yorkshire Post).
“They are the fundamentals of the game and that was the biggest thing I was proud of, the team fighting for the shirt.”
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What comments is Jonathan Woodgate talking about?
Following the Liverpool game, Wilder was full of praise for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
He praised their desire, despite being European and World Champions. Desire to work hard and perform is one of the key things Wilder prides his teams on doing.
“They won every first ball, every second ball, dropped on every second ball, ran forward and ran back and they did that miles better than us,” Wilder had previously said.
It’s pleasing, then, to see the comments of Chris Wilder resonating with managers further down the footballing pyramid. Especially, in the case of a younger, up and coming boss like Woodgate.
Something that’s too often missing
It’s not rocket science what the Blades boss is highlighting. Outrunning and outworking your opponent is always going to give you a chance, regardless of the sport or league you play in.
Unfortunately we don’t see it often enough from some top teams. The likes of Arsenal and Manchester United, in recent times, are among the clubs who’ve been accused of not quite putting the work in.
Luckily for Sheffield United fans, this is not somehting Chris Wilder lets his charges get away with.