Wilder on 'unacceptable' Arsenal defeat and 'hardest' spell of career
- Published
Chris Wilder has been speaking to the media before Sheffield United's Premier League game against Bournemouth on Monday.
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Wilder said he "can't bury the players" after their hefty defeat to Arsenal on Monday but added "it was a really disappointing performance and result so we have to own that".
In response to how he's motivating his players off the back of that defeat: "It’s a difficult time for everybody. We all love the football club and everyone connected to it is not enjoying this part of our recent history. We can’t be jumping through hoops. Of course the mood is going to be sombre. Football tests your resolve and psychology and it will test you all the way through your career. We’ll have better days and brighter days but you have to dig in and show you’re up for the fight."
He said he doesn't "want selfish players or victims" and that apart from defender Jack Robinson, "there’s not many players that can say they’ve played to their maximum level".
On conceding so many goals: "You need to to give yourself an opportunity in games and it’s quickly gone in some games from one goal, to two, three or four and that’s incredibly disappointing."
He said this period of time as the hardest of his career "without a shadow of a doubt" and added: "I’ve never asked the supporters for help and I never will because it’s up to us to fire them up. The fans are outstanding and I think they’re making the shirt incredibly light for the players."
Reflecting on why they have struggled to find consistency: "We have been incredibly harshly impacted in terms of injuries. There’s got to be a touch of sympathy in terms of stability and consistency that we’ve not had. Every team needs it but promoted teams really need it to give them a chance."
He added that "there’s certainly a lot of work to do in a short period of time," if they are to improve their performances and become defensively stronger.
On Saturday's opponents Bournemouth: "They’re a good solid club and they’ve got a lot of talent in the team. If they were watching Monday night then they will be expecting a pretty straight forward and comfortable home win. We have to accept that and we have to do our best to make sure that isn’t the way it goes."
