Sheffield United: Fans react as Pep Guardiola praises the Blades

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been heaping praise on Sheffield United ahead of their match against each other in the Premier League on Tuesday evening.
Speaking before their encounter at Bramall Lane, the former Barcelona manager admitted that he was “incredibly impressed” by Chris Wilder’s side (The Independent). Added to that, the Spaniard also went on to say: “When people say you can improve by watching others, this is the one. We suffered against them here [at the Etihad]. I admire them, honestly. How they play and what they’re doing.”
For the Blades and Wilder, in particular, to be spoken about in such glowing terms by a manager who has won league titles in England, Spain and Germany as well as lifting the Champions League twice (Transfermarkt), is testament to just how well they have done on their return to the top flight.
Indeed this is the South Yorkshire outfit’s first season in the Premier League since 2006/07, but they have taken to it like a duck to water and after 23 games they sit in seventh place, just six adrift of the top four (BBC Sport).
They have a unique style of playing, a 3-5-2 system which sees their outside centre-back’s overlap the wing-backs at times to create overloads out wide (Dream Team) which is perhaps what Guardiola was alluding to when he suggested he could improve himself by watching the Blades.
Several Blades fans can’t quite believe how complimentary Guardiola has been about them, with some suggesting it shows just how far they have come that a manager of such calibre would be left drooling over their team. Here is what some said on Twitter…
You’d never have thought this back in the League One days, that Pep Guardiola would be saying this about us. Shows how far we’ve come. ⚔
— ⚔ Blades1889 ⚔ (@Blades1889_com) January 20, 2020
Jeez. When are we all going to wake up from this dream? That is a phenomenal compliment to Wilder and SUFC.
— Andy Morton (@andymorton81) January 20, 2020
Knew there was a reason why I bloody love Pep 👏🏻 just incredible to hear these comments about us …. maybe pass this on to certain “reporters”
— Allison Pearson❤️⚔️ (@allip75) January 20, 2020
Wow 👍
— PAHS❤️⚫⚪⚔️ (@PaulHolmshaw) January 20, 2020
Wow high praise indee!! Pep knows @loughblade
— tom duggan ⚔ (@duggantom) January 20, 2020
Pep likes it we love it!! 🔴⚪️⚫️⚔️
— Paul Waller (@pwaller25_paul) January 20, 2020
The master Pep Guardiola saying his side can learn a thing or two from my little pub team Sheffield United is just ridiculous. Chris Wilder & Alan Knill mate 🤝
— Kane Tingle (@kane_tingle10) January 20, 2020
Sheffield United fans, what are your thoughts on what Pep Guardiola had to say about your team? Let us know in the comments below…
