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Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has ensured that he doesn’t follow in the footsteps of the Owls by copying one thing that led to their 2015/16 play-off defeat.
Sheffield United have a golden opportunity to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking, with Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland sitting in their way.
The Blades convincingly beat Bristol City across two legs to make it to the play-off final, and Chris Wilder has shown his confidence in his Sheffield United side to get the job done, particularly after seeing their brilliant preparations ahead of the contest.
Sheffield United spent a large amount of the season in the top two of the Championship, so slipping at the final hurdle would be a cruel ending to the campaign for Wilder’s side, which is why the Blades boss has ensured that his team’s mentality is spot on.
He has even made sure that his team don’t replicate one mistake that Sheffield Wednesday made at the 2015/16 play-off final, something that contributed to them suffering defeat to Hull City.
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder ensures that mentality is correct as he goes against Sheffield Wednesday approach
In his pre-match press conference, Blades boss Wilder has spoken about his side’s pre-match routine that will be conducted ahead of the clash at Wembley. Whilst he has highlighted the brilliant spectacle it is set to be, he has urged his players to remain focused on the task ahead.
“We’ve got the opportunity of having a quick walk around Wembley Stadium,” said Wilder, per The Star. “It’ll be a five or ten-minute walk.
“We have had that opportunity given to us and we’ll take it. And then we’ll be back in to rest and prepare for hopefully an incredible afternoon of Championship football.”
This contrasts how inter-city rivals Sheffield Wednesday prepared for their play-off final back in 2015/16. Curtis Davies, who led Hull City to victory against the Owls, spoke about how their opposition prepared for the game, and how that gave them confidence ahead of the tie.
“We got in the changing room, we got the game done, we won the game, and we went home cause we just knew we had to get back up.
“Whereas Sheffield Wednesday turned up, they were there in their nice suits, which isn’t a problem. It’s a Wembley game, it’s a big occasion, sunglasses on, taking selfies on the pitch.
“I went in the changing room, I said ‘lads, we’ve got this, they’re here for the day out, we’re here to win, and that was kind of a big motivation in what I said.”
Chris Wilder has done well to master his side’s mentality ahead of play-off tie
Sheffield United fans will certainly be confident ahead of the Championship play-off final because of the importance that Wilder has placed on the mentality within his ranks.
It was clear after the first leg against Bristol City, Wilder instructed the Sheffield United players inside, limiting the time they had to thank the fans for travelling, something that he later cleared up to be because the job wasn’t complete yet.
Wilder will have reminded his players of this throughout the week; there is no chance that he will have allowed any complacency to seep into the players, and he will make sure that all focus is now on getting the job done, which starts by not getting ahead of yourself on such an occasion.