WILDER READY TO ADAPT TO ‘NEW NORMAL’

Sheffield United will use three coaches to travel to Villa Park for football’s restart tomorrow and get changed in the players’ lounge and media room.

the Premier league is back but not as we know it. Social distancing rules mean they need the extra two buses, while Aston Villa will require both dressing rooms to get changed.

Premier league protocols dictate that manager Chris Wilder and his players will be moved upstairs to the floor housing the media room and players’ lounge. Wilder says he and his players are having to get used to doing everything differently.

“We understand we’re changing in a big media room at Villa Park, so we’re not in the changing room,” he said.

“We’ll have to adapt, like other teams will have to adapt when they play at Sheffield United, with social distancing and all the fine details.

“the amount of staff meetings we’ve had is unprecedented, but we have to get this right and be organised, and know what’s coming. People sticking swabs down the back of my throat and nose – we got used to that.

“We’ve got three buses. Obviously, the main actors are on the first bus. i suppose, when everyone gets off at Villa Park, you can just pick the team from that!”

Wilder (above) is excited to be part of the groundbreaking first game back and knows there will be a global tv audience of tens of millions, even if Villa Park will be empty.

“the first game back for everyone is going to be a little bit different,” he said. “We understand the magnitude of the game, the coverage of the game. Villa-sheffield United might have been seventh or eighth on Match of the day, now it will get worldwide coverage. We want to put on a good show and play well.”

the Blades voted against changing the rules to allow five substitutes for the remaining games because Wilder believes it only helps the richer clubs.

Wilder said: “We believe it benefits the powerful clubs with the bigger academies. But we were outvoted and respect the decision.”

the Blades boss only gave his players one week off during football’s 100-day shutdown. Back in early March, the Blades were seventh in the league, dreaming of europe, and through to the fa Cup quarter-finals.

“i’m confident we can pick up and restart our season,” he added. “it’s going to be an intense schedule and we’ve got the fa Cup as well.”