Chris Wilder says Sheffield United players sold fans out in Fleetwood Town cup exit
Chris Wilder says Sheffield United's League Cup exit has given him "clarity" that there are players in his squad he cannot trust.
The Blades lost 1-0 to the last remaining League Two side in the competition on Wednesday, allowing the Cod Army to set up a home tie with Arsenal in the last 16.
Rhys Norrington-Davies put the only goal of the game through his own net and with more than half-an-hour to pull it back, the Blades were unable to do so.
Manager Wilder named a strong side but said too many had gone off script, and sold the supporters out.
His players were booed off at full-time.
“This will take a bit to get over for me, personally,” Wilder told The Star. “We don't want to get criticised. We don’t want to get abused. But we have to accept it because we've sold out and we've let everybody down.
“I'm not going to get over this easily. And the players out there are part of it.
"A lot of players had an opportunity to take a big step forward tonight, and they took a big step back. I've seen it and it has given me clarity.
“These are the ones that really sort the men out from the boys. And I think there were a lot of boy performances out there after half-time. So maybe players know better and want to go their own way.
“And ultimately, individually, that will only end in one way. The players have had enough warning and possibly people will be saying: ‘Well, they're not listening to you.’ Well, if they're not listening to me, then there's only one winner on that.”
The Blades travel to Stoke City in the Championship on Saturday – the last game before a three-week international break – and Wilder suggested the repercussions would be felt in the Potteries.
“It's my team so I have to take that responsibility,” he said.
“It has given me so much clarity in who I can trust, and who’s going to take us forward and who’s got a lot to do to get themselves back on side and on track with me.
“Players just did what they wanted instead of sticking with the plan. That doesn't go unnoticed. I see everything.
"Ultimately, I have to take that responsibility, which I'm big enough to do.
“But I can't stand here and defend the players. Some players just didn't do enough and that will stay with me for quite a long time.
"They're going to have to do a lot to drag that back.”
The Blades have lost three of their last four matches in all competitions.