NEWCASTLE, England (Reuters) – Sheffield United face a tough summer as they deal with the disappointment of relegation from the Premier League but manager Chris Wilder believes he can take them back to the top flight.
The club’s relegation was confirmed following a 5-1 loss to Newcastle United on Saturday in which their defensive frailties were on show. They have now conceded 97 goals in 35 games this season.
The Premier League record is 100 goals conceded by Swindon Town in the 1993-94 season.
“It stings and it hurts. We have to own it,” Wilder told the BBC. “We have got so much work to do on the training ground. We have got to have a proper pre-season.
“Sheffield United is a really good football club. I think everyone understands that but it’s been a really poor season.”
Wilder said he had no intention of resigning and wanted to be part of the rebuild at Bramall Lane.
“I’ve still got another year left of my contract. I’d like to think that the supporters can trust me,” he said. “I’m enthusiastic and committed along with my coaching staff to get it right.
“We know exactly what direction we need to go, what the culture is going to look like, what pre-season is going to look like.”
Wilder said Saturday’s heavy defeat at Newcastle, despite his side taking the lead and dominating the first half, was due to a lack of leadership within the team.
“There’s plenty of games where we have been put to bed early but today we should have been 3-0 up at halftime. I’m scratching my head that it was 1-1,” he said.
“Newcastle up their game and get a head of steam. Then our old mistakes start to fall in and goals go from two to three to four to five pretty quickly.
“There’s a reason why that happens. It’s an incredibly young side and there is a complete lack of leadership out there. I thought at times I was going to have a heart attack in terms of trying to get the messages on.”
(Reporting by Nick Said; editing by Clare Fallon)
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