Sheffield United manager has aimed a playful jibe at Leeds United.
Wilder was speaking to the press ahead of the Blades’ Championship clash with Norwich City this weekend.
While speaking about team selection the United boss gave a cheeky nod to the recent “spygate” scandal involving Leeds.
Wilder was discussing whether January signings Kieran Dowell and Gary Madine could start against the Canaries on Saturday.
“Behind closed doors, unless someone has been watching that is, they’ve been training really well. We have that option,” the 51-year-old told the Sheffield Star.
Wilder is referring to the revelation that Marcelo Bielsa had sent a staff member to spy on Derby County training.
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The employee in question was confronted at the Rams’ training ground and Bielsa admitted he had sent him. Not only that but the Argentine said he had done it to all of the Whites’ opponents this season.
Derby made an official complaint to the EFL and 11 Championship clubs have backed it. The Blades are not among them.
Wilder’s opinion
If it wasn’t already clear that Wilder’s recent comments were meant as a joke, then what he originally said about Bielsa’s actions should.
The Blades chief was asked at the time what he thought about it, telling the Sheffield Star: “It’s been over exaggerated.
“It’s not something that we would do but I think the manager has been clever because the chant about Leeds United (‘We all hate Leeds’) will get a little bit louder now and they will love that siege mentality.
“You saw in their performance (against Derby), that it was them against the world, and I thought they were outstanding with it.”
United could close the gap on leaders Leeds to just one point this weekend. However, they will need to beat second-placed Norwich and hope the Whites lose at Rotherham United to do so.