Leeds United are a Premier League club under Daniel Farke and Chris Wilder has admitted some jealousy since being re-appointed at Sheffield United.
The Blades had to endure the same fate as Leeds United, given that they are the last two sides to lose the play-off final. A Sheffield United win at Wembley could have benefitted Leeds financially but it was Sunderland who won it.
In the end, Chris Wilder’s side finished just eight points behind Leeds but have had to contend with a rebuild in the Championship in 2025/26. Under Ruben Selles’ stewardship, they started the season with five league defeats and six defeats in all competitions.
The former Hull City and Reading boss was placed in charge after Wilder’s dismissal. However, a 5-0 defeat to Ipswich Town means it is their worst start in the second tier for 30 years. They have acted swiftly by bringing Wilder back for a third stint at Bramall Lane.
Sheffield United FC v Leeds United FC - Sky Bet Championship
Photo by Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images
Chris Wilder’s Leeds United admission he would ‘love’ to do at Sheffield United
Just one year ago, Leeds were positioned similarly to Sheffield United. Defeat at Wembley to Southampton cast uncertainty over numerous players, which is exactly what Selles and co. had to deal with in the summer.
The results meant they had to act and Wilder will hope to go one better than last term. Even with a poor start, not all hope is lost for Sheffield United given the example Leeds set just one year on in winning the title.
Leeds lost just four league games last term, with the Blades already losing five. Wilder will want to follow Leeds’ example, although he has admitted it won’t be in the same way as Farke and co.
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Speaking during his first press conference, Wilder said: “It’s certainly a position that the owners weren’t expecting the club to be in, but we are. They are for a reason. And, as I said, the players have to have to accept some responsibility for that.
“Bottom of the league in duels, you know, bottom three or four in terms of running stats. The game doesn’t change. The fight in the players has to be shown and that shows that they’re not fighting.
“At the moment, they’re not running around. People can talk about the reasons why they’re not doing that, but first and foremost, I don’t compromise on those aspects of the game. And the top guys don’t compromise.
“So, if people think — in the Premier League — people don’t run around and don’t tackle and don’t compete, then they’re completely off what football is all about. And football’s about winning games of football, you know.
“I’ve always said, you look at the Championship and there’s maybe sort of 10 to 15 games where you play well. There’s a there’s a group in the middle there, maybe 10 to 15 games, and there’s a group of games where you don’t play well.
“It’s how you approach every game and how you get results. We’d all love to play champagne football and and do maybe what Leeds United did last season and play this free-flowing game with the players that they had.
“But that wasn’t the situation that we were put in at the start of the season. And you have to grind out results and, by hook or by crook, gain those results through different qualities.
“We have the players to do everything here to fight and to grind one out and to play decent football.”
Leeds’ record in recent years against Sheffield United
West Yorkshire Leeds hasn’t met South Yorkshire Sheffield United as often as you might think in recent time. Since a 2-0 win for the Blades in 2011, there have been eight meetings.
Date Competition Venue Result
27/10/2017 Championship Elland Road Leeds United 1-2 Sheffield United
10/02/2018 Championship Bramall Lane Sheffield United 2-1 Leeds United
01/12/2018 Championship Bramall Lane Sheffield United 0-1 Leeds United
16/03/2019 Championship Elland Road Leeds United 0-1 Sheffield United
27/09/2020 Premier League Bramall Lane Sheffield United 0-1 Leeds United
03/04/2021 Premier League Elland Road Leeds United 2-1 Sheffield United
18/10/2024 Championship Elland Road Leeds United 2-0 Sheffield United
24/02/2025 Championship Elland Road Sheffield United 1-3 Leeds United
Leeds’ results vs Sheffield United since 2011
Interestingly, Wilder took charge of each and every one of the above across two separate stints. The two could yet meet again next term, depending on promotion and relegation.
The recent pair of victories for Farke were two of the best of the 2025/26 season, however. The limbs at Bramall Lane were something to behold.