Sheffield United v Manchester City - Sander Berge relishing challenge against maestro Kevin De Bruyne

For a team searching for their first win of the season, Liverpool away, Manchester City at home and Chelsea away is not the easiest of sequences.

This afternoon Berge will be coming up against the best midfield in England, possibly the world, and the player the Norwegian rates the best player on the planet.

But the Blades can be a contrary lot. Last season they beat Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal (albeit Unai Emery’s version) at Bramall Lane, and drew 3-3 with Manchester United.

Berge, whose two goals for the club have come against Spurs and a penalty at Anfield in his side’s best performance of the season last week, seems to play better the better the opposition. Understandably underwhelming as he adjusted to a new league and a new culture in the weeks after his £22m move from Genk, his form has been on an upward trajectory since lockdown, to the point where he now believes he has never played better.

“I kind of like that,” he says, when asked about taking on the best. “I don’t think good and bad players think so differently but good players attack you more and care more about their own strengths so they don’t have the same amount of respect. They give you a choice so it’s easier when they come after you. You can attack them back.

“I like the big stage and to play against the best. It’s just always been my thing, something I really cherish. I live for those moments.

“I guess that’s just the normal, natural way of it when you want to be the best player you can be. In the big games you can really show yourself.

“I’ve never performed like this at this level before. I think I reached a certain level in the Champions League with Genk (where they played in a group with Liverpool in 2019-20) but at that time we were always big, big underdogs so normally the scoreline was three or 4-0 to the opponents so it’s difficult to know how well you perform when the gap is that big and you lose. It’s different when you have a result to play for every week and the opponents probably respect us even more.

“So in those terms I’ve probably not reached the level I’m at now (before) but I feel like I have a lot to work on and more potential to fulfil.”

To call anyone but Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo the best player in the world can come across as heresy but as age catches up on them, Kevin De Bruyne’s star continues to rise. Berge calls him “probably the best player in the world – a player I look up to a lot.”

He adds: “No matter what type of game he can be a game-changer. He accelerates the game, makes some unbelievable passes, takes off pressure, eliminates people.

“He’s a big danger but whoever they play with, if it’s Rodri, (Ilkay) Gundogan or whoever they have so many players they can use there who will fulfil their role very well.

“As a team they never really give the ball away and they decide, mostly, the tempo of the game. They’re so good when they lose the ball because they have so many people around it.

“But we have to be confident. We showed at Anfield we can compete against the best. We’re playing at home and we always feel confident and strong there.

“We just have to follow our gameplan. We have a lot of respect for them but we can’t be too passive or naive when we play games like that because you get vulnerable and deep, it’s a long way to score against them and they’re around our goal more often.”

It is a shame Berge’s improvement has come without the supporters who took him to their heart right from his debut at Crystal Palace in February, when he was serenaded with an Oasis-inspired terrace song.

Berge reveals a photograph of him going over to the Selhurst Park away end hangs on the wall of his apartment as the inspiration behind his ongoing improvement.

“It makes me smile when I think about it,” he says. “It was a special moment and something I brought with me during the lockdown when it wasn’t the easiest period and I didn’t really feel I’d played so well. That was motivational, hanging on the wall for me, to come back and hopefully make the supporters see the club actually bought a decent player.

“Not having fans (in the ground) is sad but I know they’re watching every week so you want to show them, you still play for them.

“That was a very special moment and I miss that. I hope I will get to feel that again soon.”

Manager Chris Wilder has nothing but praise for a player who has flitted between the holding midfield role and a more advanced position during his time in red-and-white stripes.

He references his “outstanding technique” in explaining why Berge was entrusted with the penalty at Anfield, but what shines through more is his character.

“He’s a very mature 22-year-old – the way he talks about the game and the way he interacts with you and wants information,” says Wilder. “He understands if he does well for his team then the personal accolades will come.

“He’s a good player and a good person as well. He’s very humble and engaging.

“There were a few young players (during the coronavirus lockdown) who couldn’t go home, who couldn’t see their family and it was tough but he got his head down and showed me what he’s about. He was arguably our best player after lockdown and he’s been right up there this season.

“He can play in a number of positions, he’s got the intelligence and the power to do that.

“Taking that penalty shows the courage he has got and what we think of him.”

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