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00:00Chris, what's the key to finishing the job on Monday?
00:02Consistency, in attitude, approach, everything.
00:06I think the message to right the way through this playoff campaign
00:10was reset and go again, which we have done.
00:15We've got a fabulous result on Thursday and getting the job done.
00:19So all those qualities that we need to show,
00:23experience of being in this situation before from myself and the coaches,
00:28and I just feel, Robert, our general approach to football the game
00:35and our attitude is that you've got to earn the right to go and win games of football
00:39and we're going to have to do that on Monday night.
00:43So never take anything for granted.
00:45One action can define a game, putting yourself in a bad position.
00:51So we've really got to be consistent with everything that we've done.
00:54We're in a fabulous position.
00:55You know, I'm not mugging anybody off by going down another route.
01:00We've put ourselves in a great position.
01:03We've given ourselves an opportunity to go and finish your job
01:05and we need to go and do that.
01:07What stood out in terms of the way that your team handled the challenge of that first leg?
01:11I think the way the team have handled everything since walking off the pitch at Burnley
01:16has been absolutely outstanding.
01:17I think we're in a really good place.
01:19We've got players back fit, knocking on the door.
01:21Everybody wants to be involved.
01:22Everybody wants to play them, rightly so.
01:24So they've done that.
01:26I think one thing that I will say is our injury record.
01:29You know, there's a lot that's been talked about about the injuries
01:31over the past two or three years at this football club.
01:34You know, to have everybody available to the injuries that we've had
01:38have been contact injuries and really unfortunate injuries.
01:41The suitor injury and the blaster injury,
01:42even Sy Satchdev's injury at the start of the season.
01:46So all the injuries, you know, we've tried to limit that.
01:49There is an increase in injuries in football across the board.
01:53But to have that consistency, to have that availability for myself is key.
02:02So, yeah, there's a load of things in there, Rob.
02:07And the feel of it has been good since that.
02:10They've reset, they're focused, they're determined.
02:13They're professional in their approach.
02:14And we're in a good place.
02:17But I want to be in an even better place at 10 o'clock on Monday night.
02:23Aside from a full house, what do you want from the atmosphere on Monday?
02:27Yeah, we've all witnessed it.
02:29We've all felt it.
02:30We've all lived it.
02:31I've lived it as a player.
02:33It's incredibly fortunate to have lived it as a fan,
02:36as a player and as a manager.
02:37And they're incredible, incredible, you know, experiences for all three.
02:44All three.
02:45So I'm quite lucky to be maybe in a pretty small club in that manner.
02:51And the energy that it gives the players is incredible.
02:55And we've seen it and we've lived it, breathed it.
02:58So for me, it is really important.
03:01I am banging on about it.
03:02And I think it represents our football club.
03:04We're a big football club in this league.
03:05Like I saw last night, you know, Coventry City versus Sunderland sellouts
03:10or Bristol City on...
03:13I know that Bristol City versus us on Thursday night.
03:15And I know they haven't been in the playoffs for 17 years.
03:17And it's maybe a little bit different to our situation
03:21over the past sort of eight or nine years.
03:25We've had some big games.
03:27But we live for these big games.
03:29And everybody lives for it and enjoys it.
03:33And just the whole...
03:34And to make it really difficult for the opposition players as well.
03:37Because they did on Thursday night.
03:40Coventry City fans did it.
03:42Leeds United fans do it all the time.
03:45Burnley did it to us on that day where they clinched promotion.
03:50And we need to do it to the opposition to make it really uncomfortable for the players.
03:55And put them on the back foot.
03:58I'm sure the team's performance, their energy, their ambition will do that naturally.
04:04Because we've done that for the majority of the season.
04:06But giving that push at this time and that energy...
04:10And I've said, you know, you do.
04:12And I've, you know, as I said, I experienced it as a player.
04:16You run faster.
04:17You jump higher.
04:18You know, you make those decisions.
04:22You play with that freedom.
04:24The shirt's light.
04:25The shirt's light.
04:27All season.
04:28The shirt's light.
04:29Being light.
04:30I've tried to make it as light as possible.
04:32The supporters are the main people that make that shirt light since 2016.
04:39And you've seen what effect that the punters have on the players.
04:44The players love playing at Bramall Lane.
04:45And I do think they deserve that atmosphere and that full house because of their efforts so far this season.
04:55And we've talked about it as well.
04:58Outstanding season.
04:59We've reset.
05:00We've got a fabulous away result.
05:02And we want to go and finish a job.
05:05And we want to go and finish a job together.
05:07And that's the big thing.
05:09Is it fair to say you also don't just want to get through this tie?
05:12You will want to go and win this game, won't you?
05:14Yeah, we set out.
05:16I've got asked the question before.
05:17What's your approach to playoffs?
05:18And what's your approach to the game?
05:20And, you know, I said that we go there to win.
05:23We've gone to win everywhere we go.
05:25You know, even in the Premier League,
05:26there's not a mindset to keep the score down.
05:29Of course, it is a different division and you have to be pragmatic at times in your approach
05:34because of the difference in ability and standard.
05:39But we're a big club in this division and we go into every game going to win.
05:45And sometimes it doesn't happen and you have to deal with that.
05:48It's happened quite a lot of times this season.
05:49What, 28 wins?
05:51Something like that.
05:51And we want to go and win one last game at home
05:54and be consistent with that approach that we've talked about.
06:02Because you've been fighting with Leeds and Burnley all season,
06:06it'd be very easy to take for granted what making a player final would be.
06:11But what kind of an achievement do you think it would be to get to the final?
06:14Well, you know, the narrative, as always, is that, you know,
06:18that team that's gone so close is the one massively under pressure.
06:21I've got to say, I never saw that on Thursday night
06:26and I've not seen that in the players.
06:27I've not even seen that in the players, really, at Burnley when we went there
06:32or some of the games towards the end of the season.
06:33You know, there's certain ways you lose football matches
06:38and I 100% don't believe it is because of that.
06:42But the narrative externally will be that,
06:44that, you know, it's all on Sheffield United.
06:47They need to go up, financially they need to go up.
06:50That isn't the case.
06:51Obviously, the effect it has on clubs is absolutely enormous and huge
06:55and can last for quite a while.
06:57So, of course, we'll accept that if we manage to get to a Wembley final
07:00and manage to go up and get promoted,
07:02like all the other clubs.
07:04So, you can't get away from that.
07:07But that's, you know, from my point of view,
07:10that's going to be, that's the way it is
07:12and that's the approach of the football club.
07:15We've had massive challenges this season
07:16and we've got another one
07:21and hopefully another one after that.
07:25All focus, as I said, on Monday night.
07:29Players have been outstanding
07:30and really proud to lead this group.
07:35It's been a tough year for everybody,
07:38but we've come through it.
07:40We've got over some difficult situations and circumstances
07:44and we're here on the cusp of hopefully another successful night for us,
07:53representing everything that we do well at the club,
07:56respecting the opposition that I've done consistently
08:00through my talk to you guys and talk to the players.
08:05Nothing won, but, you know, we've had an outstanding season
08:09and we have another opportunity which is rightly given to us
08:13to gain promotion
08:15and we're incredibly determined to go and take that opportunity.
08:19You've created a lot of history at this football club over the years,
08:22but having that opportunity of a crack at a Wembley final,
08:26how badly do you want that opportunity?
08:28More than anything that I've ever wanted in my life professionally.
08:33The determination and the desire from everybody in this football club
08:39is to go to Wembley and give yourself that opportunity.
08:42Of course, the first thing that we wanted to do was to gain promotion
08:48and unfortunately we fell a little bit short on that,
08:50but like I said, the opportunity now is to go to Wembley
08:54and make our own history,
09:00put ourselves in those annals of famous Sheffield United teams as well.
09:08Still a lot of work to be done.
09:10You know, actually coming off the pitch on Thursday night,
09:14you've seen it and that wasn't for show,
09:16that was to know this is how it is.
09:19Still got a job to do.
09:21But yeah, of course, you want to achieve.
09:23You know, you come into a season, you want to achieve something
09:25and you want to be part of our great history.
09:32The journey's been a brilliant one.
09:34I've talked about it for a long time.
09:37The club have given me some incredible moments
09:42and I like to think that we've played our part,
09:46myself and the staff,
09:48in trying to help the club get back to where it wants to be
09:50and establish, respected, proper football club.
09:53I think we're there now.
09:54We want to go and make that next step
09:56and we're incredibly determined to go and do that.
09:58What does it say about the maker of this team
10:01that you see the goal scorers the other night
10:03and you think of the players who played well in that game?
10:06It could be anybody, couldn't it, really?
10:07There are multiple players who could be a match winner,
10:10who could have a man-of-the-match performance.
10:12How much does that help you as you go through a long season?
10:15Yeah, I think, Rob, of course you want your players
10:17at the top of the pitch to assist and score goals.
10:19You know, we haven't got a Billy Sharp in the team
10:22that regularly scores 25 and 30.
10:25But I've got to say, you know,
10:28it never really has bothered me, stuff like that.
10:31You know, to win games of football
10:32is always the biggest achievement
10:34and always the biggest ambition on a regular basis
10:36and we've done that.
10:37Wherever the goals come from,
10:40I really don't mind.
10:42You know, we have the ability to keep clean sheets.
10:45Our defensive record's been outstanding.
10:48Burnley have obviously stitched us up big time
10:50because of their absolutely incredible,
10:54incredible defensive record.
10:56But, you know, we're not a million miles behind them
10:59in terms of clean sheets and goals conceded.
11:01So we can keep a clean sheet,
11:03which is always a start.
11:05And we have players at the top of the pitch
11:07that can produce big moments.
11:09And we need both of those attributes
11:13to come to the fore on Monday night.
11:21Finally, injuries.
11:22Is there anything to report there?
11:23No, we're delighted.
11:25We made a decision on Femi and Ben Bereton-Diaz
11:30on Thursday night.
11:33And we're delighted to say that both of them
11:36will be involved on Monday night.
11:39So, you know, credit to the sports science department,
11:46credit to the conditioners,
11:47the people who work away from the likes
11:48that don't get any recognition,
11:50the physios, the doctors,
11:52to give me that opportunity of picking
11:54from a full, clean bill of health.
11:58As I said, there's a lot being talked about
11:59at this football club over a number of years.
12:01We had a brilliant availability record before
12:06and we needed to get back to that
12:09because you need your best players on the pitch
12:11or available.
12:12You need your best players in training.
12:14Last season, all those players
12:16that we couldn't call upon
12:17and from a mentality point of view as well,
12:20your experienced players
12:21were sat in the treatment table
12:22in the physios room.
12:25So, we've got that.
12:26We've got that environment.
12:27We've got that feel about us
12:28that we're all together
12:29and they're all pushing
12:30to try and get into the team.
12:32And they respect, you know,
12:34when they're not in the team
12:35that they've got a part to play.
12:36I think Callum Owey has been
12:37absolutely outstanding
12:38over the last two or three games.
12:42You know, he's really pushing.
12:43Kiefer's come back into the team.
12:44Rob Holdings played a part.
12:47Tom Davis got onto the pitch
12:48on Thursday night.
12:51Outstanding contribution.
12:54Sam McCallum's come in.
12:55Harrison's come back and played.
12:57Femi's pushed.
12:58Alfie's had minutes.
13:00So, you know,
13:01Brooksy comes onto the pitch as well
13:03and plays a part.
13:04So, they're all contributing
13:06and they're all giving their all
13:07and they respect the decisions
13:08that we make
13:09and most so out of respect
13:10to the players
13:11that are their teammates as well.
13:14Obviously, there's going to be
13:15some disappointing decisions
13:18on their part
13:19and they all want to be involved
13:20but they take it in the right way
13:22and they push
13:23and they contribute
13:24and we'll need all that togetherness
13:26that has got us to this position so far
13:28to go strong
13:30into hopefully
13:32a memorable night
13:34on Monday night
13:36and then on to the next
13:38and the biggest challenge.
13:39Very best of luck.
13:40Cheers, Rob.
13:43Morning, Chris.
13:44Morning.
13:45How's Jez?
13:46Where is he?
13:46What's his situation?
13:47Yeah, Jez is involved.
13:48Going to be involved.
13:49Okay.
13:49What's been his issue
13:51because we've not sort of overlooked that?
13:52Yeah, he's just had a little bit
13:53of a tight hamstring.
13:54So, yeah.
13:55We've been careful really
13:58on it.
13:59I would think maybe
14:00if there was a gamble to add
14:02we'd have had a gamble
14:03but we didn't need to
14:04with the two games
14:07that we had
14:08in our regular season.
14:10So, I've not gambled on that.
14:11It was close
14:12to being involved
14:14on Thursday
14:15and he'll be involved
14:16on Monday night.
14:17I was going to say
14:17you touched on it
14:18on Thursday.
14:19You're a humble football club.
14:20You're not taking anything
14:21for granted
14:21but the situation
14:22that you're in
14:23does that allow you
14:24maybe to
14:24you don't have to gamble
14:25is what I'm getting at.
14:27If there is any 50-50 calls
14:28you can maybe...
14:29Oh, we need to be
14:30at our strongest
14:31because there's no gimmies
14:32and there won't be
14:33a gimme on Monday night.
14:34You know,
14:34the game was a tight game
14:36on Monday night
14:38going up,
14:39you know,
14:39we knew the game
14:40was going to be that way.
14:41They'd come out
14:42with a load of energy
14:43and a load of enthusiasm.
14:44They did.
14:45Didn't really create a lot.
14:47We created the better chances.
14:49I think, you know,
14:49when you look at the game
14:50as well, Dan,
14:51they sat in second half.
14:54I still believe
14:55we would have created
14:56the chances
14:56when they come out
14:58and if they had 11 men
15:00so I don't really get caught up
15:01in all that.
15:05Maybe the one thing
15:06that we found
15:06was obviously
15:07with the momentum
15:09and pressure
15:09that we were building
15:10going into that last 20 minutes
15:12and from a physical point of view
15:13we had that ability
15:14to change it up
15:15and obviously
15:17from their point of view
15:18they put a lot of effort
15:18in to get to that stage
15:19of the game.
15:22But it's back to 11 versus 11.
15:24As I said,
15:24they're dangerous opponents
15:25and for me,
15:28of course,
15:29the decision
15:30did swing the tie
15:32in our favour.
15:34I still, you know,
15:34I know there's been
15:35a lot of talk
15:36regarding what their manager said
15:37after I think
15:39the Universal,
15:39you know,
15:40being at games
15:41and speaking to people
15:42was from everybody
15:43was that
15:46we could have
15:47counted ourselves
15:48a little bit unfortunate
15:49regarding Tyrese's header
15:51and his two actions
15:54in that.
15:54There was two actions
15:55in terms of the
15:56sending off.
15:58There's a deliberate
15:58action
16:01to stop Kiefer
16:03scoring
16:03and pulling him back
16:04and then a second reaction
16:06in terms of
16:07trying to get a foot
16:07on the ball.
16:08So, the referee
16:10made the correct decision
16:11in the majority
16:13if not all
16:14of the people
16:14that I've spoke to
16:15or listened to
16:16or seen.
16:18So, as I said,
16:19the game
16:20gave us an opportunity
16:21second half
16:22but we like to think,
16:23you know,
16:23first half
16:24we create the better
16:24chances as well
16:26from a statistical
16:27point of view
16:27RXG was higher
16:28than theirs as well.
16:29But we know
16:31that they can be
16:31a bit of a wounded animal
16:32and we're going to have
16:32to deal with that
16:33but we've got to fight
16:35and our fight
16:36has to be bigger
16:37than their fight.
16:38You rightly touched on
16:40the injury situation
16:41the last few years
16:42before you came back
16:43was pretty poor,
16:44wasn't it?
16:44What have you done
16:45sort of tangibly
16:46to sort of get a handle
16:47on that again
16:48because that was a big thing
16:49in your first period
16:50here, wasn't it?
16:50What have you done?
16:51Well, everybody has
16:51their own ways
16:52so there's definitely
16:53been improvements
16:54up at the training ground
16:56which has helped
16:57which obviously
16:57had hindered
16:59the previous regime
17:00and even hindered
17:02to a certain extent
17:03the back end
17:04of our regime
17:05in terms of
17:06the facilities
17:07weren't good enough
17:08and investing
17:09in the facilities
17:10you know,
17:11medium and long term
17:12talking about academy
17:13investing in
17:15Shycliffe
17:16you know,
17:17the players need that
17:18they were Premier League players
17:19they needed a Premier League
17:20service to train on
17:21and obviously to get used
17:22to that
17:23and that was a situation
17:24that hurt the previous regime
17:27so
17:28but in that as well
17:30there is recruitment
17:31as well
17:32you know,
17:32there was quite
17:34an ageing group
17:35as well
17:35so there's different factors
17:36to it
17:37I'm not saying
17:37that all of a sudden
17:38you know,
17:39we're the best thing
17:40in the world
17:41in terms of
17:42keeping everybody fit
17:43there's a lot of things
17:44whether it's recruitment
17:45you know,
17:45our recruitment policy
17:46this year
17:47was availability
17:47was massive for it
17:49you know,
17:50to have players
17:50available
17:51and to create that
17:52to create that feel
17:54Dan
17:55is important
17:56and as I just said to Rob
17:57you know,
17:57when the likes of Egan
17:58and George
18:00and Bash
18:01and Ender
18:02and Orton Flecky
18:03they're all
18:04sat in the treatment table
18:06sat in the physio room
18:08they can't affect anything
18:09they can't affect
18:10the attitude to the players
18:11they can't affect training
18:13they can't affect performances
18:14you know,
18:15so there's a lot of things
18:16going to it
18:17so in terms of recruitment
18:18maybe that ageing group
18:20were always likely
18:22to pick up
18:22the bits and pieces
18:23so you know
18:24it was a tough gig
18:26but you know
18:26it was something
18:27that we really needed
18:27to zone in on
18:28to get the feel right
18:31to get the availability right
18:33and to get into
18:33get into a rhythm
18:34and consistency
18:35we managed to improve it
18:37in January
18:39with the players
18:39that we brought in
18:40I mean I just
18:40I just saw a team sheet
18:42from when we played
18:43last time we played
18:45Sunderland at their place
18:46and if you have a
18:46you have a look at the bench
18:48it was
18:48you know
18:49it was absolutely ridiculous
18:50so what we've done
18:51is brought parity to that
18:53by bringing the players in
18:54and yeah
18:55we're a big club
18:55in the division
18:56and big clubs need
18:58good squads
19:00available squads
19:01and strong benches
19:03and we've certainly got that
19:04and that was shown
19:05it wasn't
19:07me being this
19:08super tactician
19:09you know
19:10brilliant tactician
19:11on Thursday night
19:14it just needed
19:15freshening up
19:16and the boys
19:17are the ones
19:17that have to go on
19:18to the pitch
19:19and contribute
19:20and produce
19:21and certainly
19:22Callum did that
19:23and certainly
19:23Brooksy did that
19:24and they've all done
19:25that since January
19:26so actually about
19:27someone who did that
19:28on Thursday as well
19:29in Tom
19:29I mean that's a real
19:30a real bonus
19:31for you having a player
19:32of his standing
19:32coming back
19:33isn't it
19:33he showed what he's
19:34about as well
19:34brilliant
19:35great bonus
19:36you know
19:37we saw glimpses of it
19:37in and around December
19:38obviously he came back
19:40and scored the goal
19:41against Sunderland
19:42brilliant moment for him
19:43it's been a tough gig
19:43for him
19:44he's picked up
19:45some injuries
19:48so you know
19:51really pleased for him
19:51he's a popular
19:52popular boy amongst the group
19:53and he's a really good player
19:54you know
19:55he brings that
19:55calmness and assurance
19:57to us
19:58said he was obviously
19:59on a booking
20:01so I thought that was
20:02a you know
20:03just a sensible decision
20:04to get him off there
20:04off the pitch
20:05being outstanding as well
20:07but Tom came on
20:08and seamlessly fitted
20:09into that role
20:10and he's going to be
20:11a big player
20:13for us on Monday night
20:14and hopefully
20:15you know
20:16he can
20:17he can go and
20:18carve out
20:19a career
20:21at Sheffield United
20:22similar to
20:22the one that
20:23he did at Everton
20:25when he first started
20:26yeah
20:26because it's been a sort of
20:27stop-start career
20:29here for him
20:29hasn't it
20:29with injuries
20:30unfortunately
20:30he'll be desperate
20:31won't he
20:31to sort of
20:32kick-start that
20:33similar situation
20:35Dan
20:35to Rian
20:36and all the other boys
20:37you know
20:38when they
20:38when they pick up
20:39these injuries
20:39they don't want to
20:41pick up these injuries
20:41they want to have nights
20:42like Thursday night
20:45you know
20:45Tom is used to that
20:46he's played in
20:47huge games
20:48in the Premier League
20:48he's played for
20:49an incredibly
20:50big
20:52passionate football club
20:53where the pressure's on
20:55and he
20:55and he thrives on that
20:56and he
20:57he started his career
20:59and he
21:00he forged his career
21:01in that
21:02tough environment
21:03and he wants to be
21:05involved in games
21:06like that
21:06and he has done
21:07for the majority
21:08of his career
21:08and he wants to get
21:09back to being a footballer
21:11and playing in big games
21:12cheers mate
21:12good luck
21:13cheers
21:13thanks
21:13morning Chris
21:16how are you doing
21:17just in terms of
21:20sorry
21:21lost my
21:21lost my train of thought
21:22there
21:23just in
21:24in terms of
21:25we're sort of
21:26what 47 games
21:27into the season
21:28now the groundwork's
21:29all done in terms
21:30of the football
21:31is it exactly the same
21:32with the mentality
21:33in terms of the
21:34mindset your lads
21:35need to be in
21:36for this second leg
21:36yeah
21:37you know
21:37it's something that
21:38we put up on the board
21:39what we dream to do
21:41since
21:41since Burnley
21:42we plan it
21:44and now we've got to
21:44go and do it
21:45got to go and deliver
21:46and execute
21:46without saying
21:48this is me
21:50this is Al
21:50this is the staff
21:51this is you
21:52it really is
21:54you know
21:54no motivation needed
21:55at all
21:56you shouldn't
21:56I've always been
21:57incredibly passionate
22:00and consistent
22:01about this
22:01to motivate
22:02a professional football
22:03if I'm dragging
22:04one of my pals
22:05and popped off
22:05the cop
22:05to play
22:06there's no
22:07motivation needed
22:08for him to go
22:08and do that
22:09might not be good enough
22:10but he'll run around
22:11and he'll have a go
22:12so that's always
22:14been a big thing
22:15when you pull a shirt on
22:15you know
22:16there's really
22:16I might have to
22:17in certain times
22:19give somebody
22:20a little bit of a nudge
22:21or a little bit more
22:22powerful nudge
22:23as I've done
22:24in the past
22:25but
22:26motivation levels
22:29at this stage
22:31of the season
22:31with what's at stake
22:32and what they can achieve
22:33personally
22:35and as a group
22:36is enormous
22:38and that will stay
22:39with them
22:39for the rest
22:40of their lives
22:40so
22:42over to them really
22:44come on
22:44here we go now
22:46it's your time
22:47it's our time
22:47as a football club
22:48we've talked about that
22:50and it's your time
22:50as a player
22:51to go and produce
22:52the performances
22:55that we all know
22:55you're capable of
22:56the whole reason
22:58why you come
22:59to this football club
23:00whether you came
23:01through the academy
23:01to play in big games
23:03or whether we've
23:04signed you
23:05from a lower league club
23:07to play in these
23:07big games
23:08or you have played
23:09in big games
23:10for your previous clubs
23:11and you want to
23:12replicate that
23:12so
23:13this is the reason
23:15this is your time now
23:16to come and produce
23:17the goods
23:17and
23:19it really is
23:20over to them
23:21really
23:21we'll help them
23:22with the preparation
23:23we'll help them
23:24from the tactical
23:24point of view
23:25and
23:25talk about certain things
23:28but they're focused
23:29and in a real good place
23:30in the zone
23:30they know what to do
23:31they did it the other night
23:32they produced really
23:33very good individual performances
23:36and a top professional performance
23:38and sometimes
23:38you know
23:39when a team sits behind the ball
23:41like it did
23:41and sits everybody in
23:45and didn't really
23:46get into our half
23:47second half
23:47then it got into our half once
23:49when we didn't get the pressure right
23:51and broke down the right
23:51and pulled it back
23:52and Koops has made
23:53a bit of a hash
23:54of a clearance
23:55but Koops has made
23:56a pretty straightforward
23:57say
23:58they've not really
23:59got into our half
23:59so sometimes
24:00breaking down
24:01ten
24:01is quite difficult
24:02and you have to show
24:03the patience
24:04on it
24:06so we'll try and help them
24:08with stuff like that
24:09but really
24:10it's in our hands now
24:13it's in our hands
24:14and it's
24:14if we say yes
24:15then
24:16if we say yes
24:17on Monday night
24:19then
24:19you know
24:19for me
24:20we find ourselves
24:23in a final
24:24and an opportunity
24:24to get back
24:25into the Premier League
24:26and you mentioned
24:28to Danny
24:28the importance of recruitment
24:29in terms of that
24:30fitness record
24:31is it the same
24:32with the mentality
24:33is the work almost
24:34not all the work
24:35obviously
24:35but the groundwork
24:36done in the transfer window
24:38in terms of the squad
24:38that you put together
24:39yeah
24:39I think
24:40through all our
24:41you know
24:41if you look at
24:42from our recruitment
24:45policy
24:47and the people
24:48that work in there
24:49they're very well connected
24:50networking
24:51work extremely hard
24:52in terms of
24:53talking to agents
24:54talking to
24:55to
24:56to
24:56to
24:57to the people
24:58that need to be
24:59talked to
25:00and from our point of view
25:01the amount of games
25:02that we've all got
25:03myself
25:03Alan
25:03Jack
25:04Mickey Collins
25:06Duke Key
25:06all the guys
25:07there's always somebody
25:08we can
25:09you know
25:10yeah we know him
25:11say you know
25:12just let's say
25:14Harry Clark
25:14we knew about the player
25:15knew about him from Arsenal
25:17knew about him
25:18when he went on loan
25:19at Stoke
25:19I got to know
25:23Kieran as well
25:23so you know
25:24glowing reference
25:25off Kieran
25:25in terms of coming here
25:27and Kiefer had played
25:28with him
25:28as well
25:29at Ipswich
25:30so there's all sorts
25:31of different ways
25:32that you can get to know
25:33and then
25:34the biggest one
25:35is obviously
25:36the conversation
25:36with myself
25:37and what I have
25:38with the player
25:38as well
25:39conversations I had
25:40with Tyrese
25:41in the summer
25:41he's talked about
25:42conversations that I've had
25:43with the
25:44with the
25:46with the
25:46with the other players
25:47that needed a bit of a jolt
25:49in the summer
25:49the likes of Gus
25:50and Anel
25:51and you know
25:51I didn't sign Gus
25:52didn't sign Anel
25:53didn't sign Vinny
25:54so they really were
25:55not really
25:56knowing what I was
25:57fully about
25:59so those conversations
26:00as well
26:01restoring those
26:02those assets as well
26:04and getting a
26:05getting a tune out of them
26:07was key as well
26:08but they were all up for it
26:09from the first day of pre-season
26:10I think you saw that
26:11at Preston
26:12their performances as well
26:13so right the way through
26:16the mentality is huge
26:18the physical attributes
26:19are huge
26:20the availability is huge
26:21and they've got to be
26:23good players as well
26:23you know
26:24we try to sign good players
26:26and players for the big moments
26:29and that's what gives us
26:30the confidence
26:31that we can go and get the job done
26:32on Monday night
26:33because we've got some big players
26:35as I said
26:36backed by
26:36you know
26:3730,000 United fans
26:38you know
26:40it really is a
26:42a good combination
26:43for us to
26:44to go and get that job done
26:46in terms of
26:47in terms of the scouting though
26:48obviously as you say
26:49the first thing
26:50is that they're good players
26:51but is that almost the easy bit
26:52you know
26:53you can
26:53you can see with your own eyes
26:54you can see in numbers
26:55if he can pass the ball
26:57or he can shoot
26:58or that sort of thing
26:58but obviously
26:59and even
27:01and even how many
27:01how many days
27:03they've missed through injury
27:04but the mental side
27:05I guess is the hardest bit
27:06to quantify
27:07yeah
27:07100%
27:08because you know
27:09some players
27:10have maybe bombed
27:12at certain clubs
27:13that you look to say
27:14well
27:14okay
27:15can we get a tune out of him
27:17I think you look at
27:19you know
27:19maybe you look at
27:21Didsy where
27:21he didn't have a great time
27:22at Ipswich
27:22and found home here
27:24so
27:24you know
27:26it doesn't have to be always
27:27he's had a great time
27:28at his previous club as well
27:29so
27:30you know
27:30we have to be smart
27:31in the way we work
27:33and
27:34and ultimately
27:35you know
27:37it's our decision
27:38what we feel
27:38as a coaching staff
27:39and sometimes
27:40a gut feeling as well
27:41Stu
27:42that you have
27:43when you
27:43when you
27:43when you speak to somebody
27:45and meet them face to face
27:46and that
27:46that relationship
27:47and that chemistry
27:47that hopefully
27:48that you can
27:48you can build up
27:50and you can work with as well
27:51so yeah
27:51there's a lot of things
27:52going to it
27:53the data aspect
27:53obviously
27:54is becoming more prevalent
27:55here as well
27:56which
27:57which we're keen to
27:59to be on board with
28:01but let's not forget
28:02the old
28:03old values
28:04that we need to
28:05we need to have
28:06as a player here
28:07at this football club
28:09that can thrive
28:12and be successful
28:13and
28:13and can go
28:14and achieve stuff
28:15does the
28:16does the experience
28:18of the fans
28:18count for anything
28:19you know
28:20they've
28:20they've been through
28:21two-legged play-offs
28:22here before
28:22you know
28:23they've seen what good
28:23looks like
28:24this football club
28:25and what it doesn't look like
28:26does that help at times
28:28well it's up to us
28:29you know
28:29the atmosphere
28:30on
28:31on Thursday night
28:32was electric
28:33from our support
28:34it was
28:34it was a great
28:35environment
28:36to play football
28:37it's what we're here for
28:38it's what we're wanting
28:38to be in big games
28:40we want to be in big games
28:41next season
28:42we want to be a big game
28:43at the end of the month
28:43we're involved in two big games
28:45the you know
28:48the the noise
28:49that our punters
28:50created right the way through
28:51I felt a little bit
28:52for them at the end
28:52because
28:53you know
28:54I grabbed our players
28:55and took them off
28:56and maybe they would want to
28:57want to have that connection
28:59that we've had all season
29:00but I think you know
29:01deep down
29:01they understand the reason why
29:02and it's up to us
29:04to produce those performances
29:05for them to get on board
29:07and
29:07our performance on
29:09on the night
29:10was was really good
29:11and professional
29:11and they got on board
29:12right the way through
29:13and hopefully they enjoyed
29:14their night
29:14and enjoyed their journey back
29:16and they'll enjoy
29:17Monday night
29:18we have to go and play well
29:20we have to
29:21be cleaning
29:22whatever we do
29:23from a defensive point of view
29:24we can keep clean sheets
29:26which is obviously
29:27incredibly vital
29:29at any stage of the season
29:30and obviously
29:31going to be
29:33going to be big for us
29:34there's going to be moments
29:36on
29:36on
29:37on Monday night
29:38where they're going to have the ball
29:39and we're going to have to dig in
29:40and suffer
29:41and come through that
29:42but
29:42at home
29:43we've had big moments as well
29:45and
29:46I think for me
29:47just the
29:47just the journey that we've
29:49we've been on
29:50you know
29:50for a long long time
29:52you know
29:53to tick it off
29:53you know
29:54you know
29:54at the start
29:55where we were on that
29:56you know
29:57a lot of people were on that journey
29:58at the start
29:59in 2016
30:00and then it grows
30:01and it grows
30:02and
30:02I suppose
30:03only like me talking about
30:05you know
30:07my experience at Leicester
30:08and you know
30:08older supporters
30:09talking about their experiences
30:11at Darlington
30:11for us as a football club
30:13so
30:14you know
30:15experiences
30:16you know
30:16were you there
30:17the night that
30:17United got to Wembley
30:19and
30:19and we played well
30:21and we got the result
30:22that we all want
30:22so I think always
30:23I don't think it's a pick and choose
30:26scenario
30:26and I know financially
30:27it's a really tough environment
30:29I'm not taking that for granted
30:31you know
30:31the punters have
30:32sold out
30:33away from home
30:34and that isn't
30:36that isn't easy
30:37that's a cost to everybody
30:38travel
30:39food
30:40ticket prices
30:41everything that gets involved
30:42with that
30:43couple of beers along the way as well
30:44and at home as well
30:46you know
30:46we
30:47I think we do very very well
30:48to keep our prices down
30:50as a football club
30:51and are a people's football club
30:53because of what we do
30:54we don't over price
30:55we want
30:57it to be available
30:58and accessible
30:59we want
31:00we want that ground to be full
31:01and it has been
31:03you know
31:04for
31:04I don't know
31:0595%
31:06I think
31:06surely our
31:07average gate
31:08since 2016
31:10has got to be touching
31:1128,000, 29,000
31:1230,000
31:13with a capacity
31:14of
31:14just a little bit more
31:17on that
31:17which I think
31:18is testament
31:19to what the club
31:20have produced
31:22and put out there
31:22even in the
31:23not so good days
31:25that we've had
31:25the difficult
31:26periods that we've had
31:28but the good periods
31:30that we've had
31:30they've really backed us
31:31and supported us
31:32so they've got a huge part
31:33to play
31:33and I like them
31:34to be involved
31:35on that journey
31:36as well
31:36and you know
31:38a charity
31:39you've got to play
31:39your best team
31:40to win the game
31:40on Monday
31:42but you've already
31:42mentioned to us
31:43a few players
31:44who will be involved
31:45how important is it
31:46that everyone
31:47whether they're on the
31:48bench or not
31:48or in the team
31:49feels involved
31:50and how much
31:51does that come
31:51into your thinking
31:52yeah they do
31:53that's one of the
31:54pillars
31:55that we build from
31:57is the togetherness
31:59they have to be all in
32:00100%
32:01and through that
32:02there's difficult moments
32:03for them
32:04I've been there
32:05as a player
32:05when you're not playing
32:07and you're left out
32:08and I'm walking outside
32:09and my old man's there
32:11and my mum's there
32:12and my pals are there
32:13and what's the matter
32:14I'm not playing
32:14I'm disappointed
32:15get yourself back in now
32:17and go and support your team
32:18and go and support
32:19your fellow players
32:20so as a young man
32:23I had first hand
32:26experience of that
32:27so that is
32:30non-negotiable
32:32from my point of view
32:33they don't want to be
32:35part of it
32:35then they're not part of it
32:37and usually there's
32:38a quick decision
32:38made on that
32:39but they're all part of it
32:40if you speak to them
32:42they talk about
32:42this group
32:43internally
32:45being a really
32:47together group
32:47a brilliant group
32:48to work with
32:49and that's not me
32:49that's the players
32:50so we work hard
32:51in terms of
32:51putting that together
32:52and giving them
32:54that environment
32:55to grow
32:55and develop
32:57still with the disappointment
32:58because
32:59you know
33:00if I just take Callum
33:00for an example
33:01played the most minutes
33:02for us
33:03and all of a sudden
33:06we change it around
33:07because we feel
33:07we needed to change it around
33:09and he gets on with it
33:10and he comes roaring back
33:11which is an absolute
33:12perfect example
33:13of what I'm looking for
33:14and after
33:15taking the disappointments
33:16I'm not expecting him
33:18to be jumping through hoops
33:19when we name the team
33:20but he understands it
33:22and whoever plays
33:23in his position
33:23he's supporting them
33:24and when he's shaking
33:26their hand
33:26and Cal's going on
33:27and he's going off
33:28Cal has the opportunity
33:29to affect the game
33:30as well
33:30so all in
33:31is definitely
33:32a big thing for me
33:34and a must
33:34I mean with Callum
33:36just as an example
33:36because obviously
33:37as you say
33:38he's sort of
33:38the most prominent one
33:39is that
33:40is that conversation
33:41for you
33:42difficult
33:43obviously now
33:44you know how he's reacted
33:45but at the time
33:46you think you might know
33:48but you don't know
33:48for sure
33:49is that difficult
33:50with what you've been through
33:51or have you sort of
33:52just reached the stage
33:53where this is my job
33:54it's not difficult
33:55you always
33:56you get tight
33:57to the players
33:58you always feel for them
33:59when you're having
34:00that difficult conversation
34:01you know
34:03but it starts
34:05at the start
34:06when this is what
34:07you're coming to
34:08there's no guarantees
34:09there's no certainties
34:12you know
34:13we're not going to
34:13achieve anything
34:14with 11, 12, 13
34:15and 14 players
34:16we're going to achieve
34:17something
34:18and if we're good enough
34:19with
34:20with 22, 23, 24
34:24and the players
34:25you know
34:26the players that
34:27I've said all along
34:28that play 35, 40 games
34:30take care of itself
34:30you know
34:31the players that
34:31come in and
34:32do your 5, 10 and 15
34:34you know
34:35the Martin Craneys
34:37of the world
34:37you know
34:37bumped into Crane's
34:38last Sunday
34:40and just touching on that
34:42just an incredible day
34:43and such an emotional day
34:45for everybody as well
34:46for myself
34:47and Francesca
34:49and everybody connected
34:50to Western Park
34:51everybody that
34:52that helped
34:53played their part
34:54in putting that together
34:55it was a brilliant day
34:56and represented everything
34:57fabulous about our football club
34:59the support that we got
34:59on the day
35:00over 17,000
35:01was incredible
35:01the pay-to-play game
35:02before
35:03you know
35:05the moments that we had
35:07in the changing room
35:07before the game
35:08just
35:08we had a little beer
35:11amongst ourselves
35:12like
35:12not the best
35:12best preparation
35:14for 90 minutes
35:15on some
35:15but I don't think
35:16any of them were surprised
35:17in terms of my approach
35:18to it
35:18you know
35:19talking to the boys
35:21before seeing
35:22your Martin Craneys
35:23and going
35:23the reason that we got
35:25promoted
35:26wasn't the Billy Sharps
35:27wasn't the David McGoldrick's
35:30wasn't the Jack O'Connell's
35:31or the Basham's
35:32or whatever
35:32it was the Martin Craneys
35:33that came and played
35:355, 10, 15 games
35:36Gary Medean's
35:37that came in in January
35:38and played a part
35:39all those guys
35:40so brilliant
35:41brilliant occasion
35:42and for a fabulous cause
35:44and you know
35:45Chris McClure
35:47and John were there
35:48as well
35:48which made it
35:49made it special
35:50as well
35:50it wasn't the
35:51most easiest
35:53decision for them
35:54to be involved
35:55but I thought
35:55it was brilliant
35:55for Sheffield United
35:56just brilliant
35:57for the city
35:58that we've
35:59had a big push
36:00at this
36:01so yeah
36:03on to that
36:04sorry
36:04I've lost my train of thought
36:05on it Stu
36:06rambling on
36:07but I've been meaning
36:08to get that in
36:09because I think
36:10it's really important
36:11I thank everyone
36:11who was involved
36:12and was there
36:13go on
36:15I think we'll wrap it up there
36:16it's a nice moment
36:17cheers mate