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Owls gaffer Luhukay warns Blades: We’re not a soft Dutch now

I know derbies.. At Hertha and Union Berlin we had 75,000 fans

JOS LUHUKAY is expecting a baptism of fire in tonight’s Steel City derby but believes his struggling Owls side can spring a surprise.

Chris Wilder’s high-flying Sheffield United, the firm favourites, are chasing a top-six finish while Wednesday, with just one win in 11 games, are teetering six points above the drop zone.

Luhukay has had just four days to work with his players after taking over the Hillsborough hot-seat from Carlos Carvalhal with Sheffield Wednesday in free fall.

But the 54-year-old Dutchman, who had been out of work since quitting Stuttgart in September

2016 after spending his entire managerial career in Germany, is optimistic ahead of tonight’s take-noprisoners clash.

He has experienced derby fever before – with Hertha Berlin against Union Berlin – and is aware of the passion generated when city rivals clash.

“I know derby football,” he said. “Monchengladbach against FC Cologne was a big one.

“There was also Hertha and Union Berlin, they had 75,000 people at the derby. Two clubs in one city – the same as here. It makes it a challenge to be the best team.”

But he admits a 30,000 crowd at Bramall Lane tonight could be even more intimidating.

“This game is our focus,” he said, “not what happens in three weeks or three months. We have to try to win – that is the focus.

“A win would give us more confidence. It would give the players more trust in each other.

“I’ve been told of the passion that the fans have here but derbies are everywhere, in every country.

“I know in this city you have United and Wednesday. You have emotion, you have atmosphere, you have passion. All that will give the players the motivation to play good football.”

Wednesday, who were handed a 4-2 drubbing by their city rivals in October, are still without nine first-team regulars, but Luhukay is undaunted. “We will play good football but more important right now is the need for stability,” he said.

“The team doesn’t have much confidence. We have a lot of injuries to very good players so I must try to get the best out of the players who can play.”

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