Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has opened up about this season being his “hardest challenge yet” since first managing the club back in 2016.
“There were 3 challenges; to get out the bottom, to get into the mid-table and then to try and progress into the top 10 and the top 6, and that’s where we’ve stalled.
“We have to accept that and the table doesn’t lie”.
Sheffield United are currently sat in 15th place on 57 points in the championship and play their last game away at Derby at 12:30pm on Saturday.
It has been an underwhelming season for the Blades, after finishing with 90 points and only falling short in the play-off final against Sunderland last term.
“I enjoyed the attitude and personality of the team last season, and I think that’s what’s let us down this season”.
Expectations are still high for the Blades as Wilder is still confident that the team can compete for promotion next season.
“One average season doesn’t knock us back from our ambition and our belief in terms of what we can achieve and where we can be, with the players that we’ve got and what we’ll do in the summer from the recruitment”.
It could end up being a busy transfer window for Chris Wilder with eight players set to leave either due to their contract expiring or loan players returning to their parent club.
“We’ll build the culture back up again, bring the right players in and work with the players physically whilst looking at the deficiencies in this team that we obviously have.
“A lot of players who can’t see themselves getting into the team but are still around, impacts the general mood that the team is in so to tidy that up is really important”.
The support has not gone unnoticed as Chris Wilder has praised their commitment to the club through the tough times.
“The football club means an awful lot to the supporters and they’ve been outstanding.
“I get the criticism and negativity and we fully deserve it, especially recently when you’re 2-0 down at half time so we get that and we have to deal with that just as everybody is always happy to accept the praise and the acclaim when things go well”.