JUR JUST SELFISH!
Wilder gets shirty with Klopp over subs
CHRIS WILDER has accused Jurgen Klopp of being “selfish” in wanting to bring back five substitutes in the Premier League.
The Sheffield United boss rejected Klopp’s argument he is worried about players’ welfare, insisting his main concern is helping Liverpool.
Sheffield United have consistently voted against five substitutes and Wilder says having a bigger bench makes it even harder for them.
“Cards on the table, he’s going to look after his own club,” said the Blades boss.
“I’ve got incredible respect for these top managers because they produce top results and win things. But they’re selfish, they look after their own clubs.
“They’re not going to be bothered about Sheffield United, they’re not going to be bothered about England.
“They’re going to be bothered about Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea, which I understand and respect. I would be the same but I’m bothered about Sheffield United and it doesn’t help us to have five subs. I don’t think the common man is going to be too sympathetic to the mental aspect of players on £ 250,000 a week not getting into an 18- man squad.
“That’s b***** ks as far as I’m concerned.
“My sympathy for them is not huge. If Man City are playing on a Wednesday night in Outer Mongolia and then have to play at 12.30 on a Saturday, they have to play at 12.30 on a Saturday.
“If that helps us, we’ll gladly take it because this is the competitive aspect of football.
“Come on – is any Man City fan gutted that Virgil van Dijk is out injured? Is any Chelsea fan or Man United fan? Are they disappointed that Virgil van Dijk is out for a long time? They’re not because they only look after their own club and I’m just looking after my own club.”
Rather than five substitutes, Wilder is concerned about ending his side’s 11- game winless run in the Premier League.
The bottom club face West Ham at Bramall Lane tomorrow and Wilder knows they need to start picking up points.
“It was a tough run: Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea on the spin, that would be a tough run of games for anybody in our division,” he said.
“But we’re through that and we understand we need to pick up some points in these next 10 games leading into the new year.
“In a perverse way, I enjoy times like this. It’s in my nature to fight, it’s in our nature as a football club to fight.”