NOT SO WILD AT JURGEN
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CHRIS WILDER insists his row with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is over.
The pair had an explosive verbal clash in November branding each other “selfish” in an argument over how many substitutes should be allowed in Premier League games.
Sheffield United manager Wilder claimed that moving to five subs per game only benefited the big guns, and they exchanged barbs during TV interviews at the time.
Wilder gave the German a bottle of champagne in recognition of Liverpool’s title win last season when their sides met at Anfield in October (shaking hands with Klopp, right), and insists he holds no grudges.
He said: “The relationship is absolutely fine. I have nothing but admiration for Jurgen. He is a top-class manager, that is what happens. People talk the talk and things get said.
“If I was precious about what people said right the way through, I wouldn’t be in this job. If I had taken to heart what people had said on my way through as a manager I wouldn’t be sat here. The same for the manager of Liverpool. He is an incredibly talented manager. He is a winner.
“Heat of the moment or whatever, if it was personal I didn’t take it personal. I have moved on.”
Wilder insists his doomed Blades side will not feel sorry for themselves during the 13-game run-in, despite a survival battle that looks almost impossible.
He said: “We are not soft and it is a tough life for everyone and things go against you in personal life, and at work.
“It has not been a great year for everyone. No one is thinking this is a great year for the world. For us, it isn’t from a football stance. We are tough people and tough times don’t last forever. You come through it.
“Players have to dig deep, like I have to, through this period. We will learn and come out of it.
“There are businesses going bust, people losing jobs, boozers going bust, people’s mental health is suffering. You come through it using experience.”
The Hawthorns: 3pm
GRAHAM POTTER admits Sam Allardyce has been an inspiration to him as a coach.
That may come as a surprise to those who see the West Brom boss as purely a long-ball advocate – whereas Potter’s Brighton are a neat short-passing team.
But Potter (above), whose side meet Big Sam’s team today in a relegation six-pointer, insists his rival is far more than just a survivor.
Brighton travel to the Hawthorns on the back of a demoralising stoppage-time defeat by Crystal Palace that plunged them right back into the relegation mire.
They lie just four points above the bottom three, while the Baggies are in deep trouble, 11 points from safety, and simply have to win.
Potter said: “I used to look up to Sam when I was a young coach.
“You’re looking at a man with fantastic experience at the highest level. He’s worked at a lot of clubs in the Premier League.
“His Bolton team was a really exciting side, with players like Jay-Jay Okocha. They played really attacking, effective football.
“You can’t have the career Sam has had without being incredibly competent.
“I have the utmost respect for people with that longevity. Just to survive in this game, you have to respect that.
“But Sam has not only survived, he’s improved his teams, improved the players and won matches.
“When people talk about coaching, to me, that’s it. There’s no right or wrong, there’s no, ‘My way’s better or worse than anybody else’s’. It’s, ‘Have you got a way and do you make it work?’ The answer with Sam’s teams is yes.”
Asked why Allardyce does not get more respect for his work, Potter added: “He has huge respect from me. You look at the guy’s career and what he’s done over a period of time. That’s not a trend, that’s a quality of work. That’s why football people have huge respect for Sam.”