Ian Holloway has revealed that Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa congratulated Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder after the Blades pipped their Yorkshire rivals to automatic promotion.

Leeds spent a significant part of the 2018/19 season in the top two but a late-season slump in form saw them slide down into third with Wilder’s men overtaking them.

The Whites finished third but subsequently lost to Derby County in the play-off semi-final.

The Blades have made a fantastic start to life in the Premier League and are currently 10th, with five points from four games.

Wilder has done a monumental job since taking charge at Bramall Lane in 2016.

The English coach took Sheffield United from League One to the Premier League in just three years, without a huge amount of financial backing.

It appears that his achievements have not gone unnoticed by either Holloway or Bielsa.

Holloway told the Sack Race: “Speaking of Wilder, I absolutely love him, he’s a genius. I love the way he’s doing things, and come the end of the day he will come out with the credit he deserves.

“Even Marcelo Bielsa said ‘well done’ to him last year because he’s doing things very differently. He’s a pioneer, and I’m very proud of him and his staff.

"I feel like Sheffield United are my second-best team, behind Bristol Rovers.”

The Verdict

The job that Wilder has done at Sheffield United is nothing short of sensational and is perhaps made even better given that he was born in the city.

To win two promotions in three seasons is a fantastic feat, especially with some of the big clubs and budgets that are in the Championship, and the 51-year-old deserves all the praise he has been given.

It says a lot that even after losing out on promotion to one of his club’s rivals, Bielsa was still happy to offer congratulations to Wilder.

The Argentine coach will undoubtedly be hoping to join the Blades in the top flight next season.