Fitness and recovery at heart of Sheffield United’s Premier League impact

Even though the ability of some of the men who have taken the Blades to their best season since World War Two has been unfairly downplayed at times, it is still true to say it is not as high as many of their expensively-assembled rivals.

Yet Sheffield United do have the seventh-best team in the Premier League. With a game in hand, and home matches against the teams around them, they could finish higher still if the coronavirus pandemic allows them to finish 2019-20. There are many reasons why the Blades are punching above their weight, and fitness is only one of them, but it is an important one.

Another, their tactical set-up, is based around getting overloads in important parts of the field, particularly out wide. To do that requires centre-backs who can overlap their wing-backs, and central midfielders who are able to either get out wide and deliver from crossing positions, or run from deep and finish them. It sounds like a lot of fun, but the second-best defensive record in the division shows these players do not neglect the other side of their game either. That requires a lot of effort.

A more relaxed schedule than many of the teams around them has helped in 2019-20. While many of the Premier League’s top clubs have been heavily involved in European campaigns, the Blades have usually been able to play weekend to weekend. But even on the relentless Championship treadmill last season, they were not found wanting.

It is something ingrained in the culture manager Chris Wilder has instilled, according to centre-forward Oli McBurnie.

“Sheffield United have always had that side,” the Scotland international said. “Even the boys who haven’t passed their medical (to sign), the gaffer here is one who will take a chance. He has confidence in the back-up team to get everyone fit. United are really big on the sports science side.

“The staff are onto us every single day about our recovery work. They have us doing so many things, far too many for me to mention. It does my head in, to be fair. I have never known anything like this before in my career.”

This break for the coronavirus pandemic is highly unlikely to provide any let-up.

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