Water under the Spider bridge.
It’s fair to say Chris Wilder was not best pleased after their first encounter. When TV2’s intrepid correspondent Per-Atle Karlsen innocently referred to Sheffield United as merely ‘Sheffield’ during a press conference tête-à-tête earlier in the week, the Bramall Lane boss was quick to correct the error in his trademark blunt fashion.
"Sheffield United, Per." 😂 pic.twitter.com/Rvj7scvBNt
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) December 16, 2020
“Sheffield United, Per. Sheffield United!” Wilder admonished the reporter whilst wagging his finger. “Sheffield United, Per! You don’t say that when you’re talking to Ole (Gunnar Solskjaer), do ya? Manchester?” Karlsen was suitably chastised and apologised sincerely.
Following Sheffield United‘s disappointing 3-2 loss to Solskjaer’s men on Thursday night, the pair met once again. You’d feasibly have expected Wilder to live up to his name and take his frustrations out on his newly-formed nemesis. But nothing could have been further from the truth. In fact the Blades manager was charm personified.
He was all smiles as soon as he spotted Karlsen, gushing: “Hey Per! My man! He’s my man! Norwegian branch of the Sheffield United supporters’ club!” The pair greeted each other warmly as the reporter started his first question by pointedly giving the Yorkshire club its full title. Wilder duly noted a lesson learnt with a wink and a knowing grin. The start of a beautiful relationship perhaps…
https://twitter.com/PerAtleKarlsen/status/1339877998170959873
