'It's not about winning the Nobel Peace Prize': Leeds United boss Daniel Farke on locking horns with Sheffield United chief Chris Wilder — Yorkshire Post 18/10/24
By Leon Wobschall
LEEDS United manager Daniel Farke and his Sheffield United
counterpart Chris Wilder have had their ‘moments’ together, for sure.
Like in September 2017 when the latter, in his first spell
in charge of the Blades, was angered by what he viewed as deliberate
time-wasting tactics employed by Farke’s Norwich City side in a 1-0 victory at
Bramall Lane.
Wilder also accused Farke of being disrespectful after
reporting late for a pre-match meeting involving himself and the match
officials in that aforesaid game.
After the Blades won the return fixture in Norfolk, Wilder
sarcastically pointed to his watch amid the visitors’ post-match celebrations.
Earlier this season, there was also a bit of tension in the
air following comments made by Wilder regarding Leeds’s pursuit of Gus Hamer
and the signing of Jayden Bogle.
Despite all the history, the relationship between the pair
remains a good one.
They count themselves as friends away from the pitch and
there is plenty of mutual respect. But amid tonight’s derby cauldron, the
gloves will be metaphorically off for ninety-odd minutes as they fight for
their respective teams.
They will be the best of enemies and there will be no
niceties in the technical area when the match gets underway.
Farke said: “It has to be (like that). Games against his
side are always competitive.
"What you have on the sidelines, it’s not about winning
the Nobel Peace Prize…. It’s about winning the points and Chris tries the best
for his team and I try to be the best for our team.
"But I have tons of respect. It is always good to see
him and I am also looking forward to having some quiet minutes after the game
because it’s always good to chat to him.
"I think he’s an outstanding manager, especially for
Sheffield United with what he did a few years ago to bring them to the Premier
League and have a really good first year in the Premier League.
"Obviously last year, it was impossible to avoid
relegation, but what he is doing right now - to rebuild and make them
competitive again - says a lot about his experience. It’s a big challenge. To
beat a team with Chris in charge is always unbelievably difficult.
"We have a really good relationship apart from this and
enjoy it when we face each other. Once we take a new job, there’s a few
messages and we have a really good relationship."
Tonight’s fascinating contest pits together two of the
division’s form sides and, depending on the result, either of the derby
combatants could top the table by the final whistle of this marquee fixture.
In many respects, it is a contender for game of the season
at second-tier level thus far, but its timing straight after an international
break remains a big frustration for Farke, who is assessing the fitness of a
number of players who have just arrived back following exertions for their
countries.
The Leeds chief acknowledged: “I'm struggling to understand
the fixture list, playing on Friday night after the international break.
"It is a bit disappointing and sad because (Sheffield
United) is a great game."