Sheffield United boss makes Leeds United comparison in rallying cry ahead of big Championship kick-off
Chris Wilder has called on Sheffield United to recreate the feel of Leeds United’s Elland Road after relegation in his rallying cry ahead of the new Championship campaign, which kicks off tonight at Preston North End. The Blades are out to banish the disappointment of last season after returning to the second tier, with a drastic clearout seeing a total of 17 players depart Bramall Lane this summer.
United have only so far been able to replace almost half that figure, with former Stoke City striker Tyrese Campbell closing in on a move to South Yorkshire after beginning his medical yesterday at the Blades’ Shirecliffe training ground. United are also keen on Crystal Palace’s Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and are hoping to tie up a deal for the young winger ahead of Tuesday’s EFL Cup opener at home to Wrexham.
United have refreshed their squad with the signing of a group of fresh young faces to replace some departing heroes such as Chris Basham, Ollie Norwood and George Baldock, and have also utilised a new-look 4-2-3-1 formation in pre-season that saw some impressive performances and link-ups – not least between old pals Callum O’Hare and Gus Hamer, reunited at Bramall Lane after the former’s summer switch from Coventry City.
“It’s a fresh start and a new beginning,” Wilder said. “I’ve commented before on Leeds when they got relegated the year before and the ground against Hull was as loud as I’ve ever heard it there at Elland Road. We’ve got to produce good performances and win games of football to recreate that environment at Bramall Lane, which we know.
“But I believe the shirt will be still light and the supporters will understand what’s happening. Some won’t understand the process but the majority will. We’ll give them everything we’ve got and they’ll give us everything they’ve got. There’ll be some new heroes and hopefully some new stories and there are some games to be won ahead of us.”
United may be far from the finished article when they begin the season at Deepdale but Wilder is not expecting any favours from Preston. “It’s important we get out the blocks quickly because every game has three points on it. The three points at the start are just as important as the three points in the last three games at the end.
“But I do think our supporters recognise this is a major major rebuild, possibly the biggest in the division. I’m not after any leeway and Preston won’t care about how many we’ve let go and what we’ve done in pre-season, because the division is unforgiving. We’ve just got to get on with it.”
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