Chris Wilder has said he is not interested in what the pundits say about his team.
What did he say?
The Sheffield United boss was speaking ahead of his side’s match against Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday in their final Premier League game before Christmas.
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Talking about what he thinks of the opinions of those in the footballing world, he said: “I’m not interested in what the critics or the pundits say.
“People will always have one, an opinion, they’ll always talk about stuff. Especially in this division, with all the media coverage and the spotlight that’s on it.
“If you don’t want to be a part of it, then take yourself out of it. But if you do want to be a part of it, which we do, then it comes with the territory.” Under the radar
Before the season started, the Blades were widely tipped to get relegated. TalkSPORT host Adrian Durham even accused the newly-promoted side of not taking the Premier League seriously after they spent just £42.75m during the summer transfer window. Of those players for which they had paid a fee, only one came from a fellow top-tier club.
However, they have proved the doubters wrong up until now. They are comfortably in the top 10 of the division and have lost just four matches all season. As it stands, they could barely look further away from relegation candidates, and Wilder should receive credit for the job he has done.
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It seems that going under the radar and being written off has done the Blades the world of good.
You just need to look at Aston Villa to have an idea of what increased pressure can do to your survival hopes. Despite spending a huge £133.74m during the summer window, they are now in the bottom three of the division and are looking like relegation fodder.
By now, the pundits should have learned their lesson, especially as it looks as though the Bramall Lane outfit could even target a place in Europe at the end of the term. Wilder, though, should be hoping that the pundits continue to underestimate the potential of his side, as it may just push them on even further.