Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, has admitted that he is now a regular watcher of Chris Wilder and Sheffield United.
The Reds boss is firmly on course to pick up the Manager of the Year award this year. After leading his team to an, as yet, unbeaten campaign, Klopp is looking nailed on to pick up the award.
Blades boss Chris Wilder is also in that conversation, however. His United side currently sit fifth in the Premier League table. Talk of a European place, then, is firmly on the agenda at Bramall Lane.
And it seems that the Blades’ form and way of playing has interested Klopp, who admitted he now watches them regularly.
“I didn’t know Chris Wilder before we played them”, Klopp said. (Football Daily).
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“But now I follow Sheffield United not only when we play them. I follow them for different reasons. Of course, it’s an incredible job”.
Klopp, along with Pep Guardiola, have previously spoken of their admiration for the Blades. Indeed, Man City manager Guardiola admitted he could learn from Wilder when the clubs played earlier in the season.
Wilder is the current holder of the LMA Manager of the Year award after guiding the Blades to Championship success last term.
A whole host of pundits have already called on him to win the award this year. The likes of Lee Dixon and Jamie Redknapp among those to sing Wilder’s praises and call for him to be recognised.
Humbling reaction from Klopp
It’s tremendous to see the likes of Jurgen Klopp taking time to praise Wilder and Sheffield United.
It’s not surprising, however. The German has been humble throughout the campaign and is very rarely a manager who sings his own praises.
Klopp will probably win the award come the end of the campaign. Wilder, though, can rest safe in the knowledge he’ll have pushed him as close as any other coach in England at the moment.