Chris Wilder has done a brilliant job since joining Middlesbrough in November despite falling just short of the play-offs this season.

The Boro boss now looks towards the summer where he will be rebuilding the squad ahead of his first full season in charge, with the aim of his side reaching the top six next season.

However, Wilder will not forget to focus on the off the pitch factors as well as he aims to build his relationship with the fans even more.

Explaining why he thinks this is important, Wilder told Teesside Live: "If you look at what I've tried to achieve at every club, there has been that. There has to be that connection between everybody.

"You look at the best teams in the world, and look at the Real Madrid and Man City game, it's not being critical of Man City but Real Madrid are an absolute giant of world football with that connection. Liverpool in this country are one of the best clubs and there is that connection there between the manager and players and the supporters.

"So I'm not trying to copy them, but I have tried to have that everywhere I've been. At any level, if you want to be successful you have to have that bond and you have to have that connection. There are times when players will pull the supporters through and times when the supporters will pull the players through.

"I think if you look at that in the Champions League, on 90 minutes Man City were playing in a Champions League final against Liverpool, and then all of a sudden that changed and I don't think you can underestimate the effect that the connected support had on that. I think the importance was shown in a heartbeat there. Players recognise it.

"We will all be doing our best for the supporters and the players and personally I want to have success here, and the players do recognise they want to bring good times back to the supporters of Middlesbrough."

 

 

The Verdict: 

As much as having the correct players and the correct system count, there is no doubting that a supportive unit between the staff, players and fans counts for something too.

As Wilder points out, there have been games in which teams have got boosts from the fans that has helped them go on to get results and Wilder definitely experienced this at Sheffield United.

If everyone at Middlesbrough can look ahead to next year as one then they definitely have a good chance of achieving what they want to next season.

However, Chris Wilder will have to make sure the additions to his side this summer encourage the fans and give them a reason to cheer.