Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl says he will not waste any energy thinking about rival boss Chris Wilder’s controversial celebrations following the last Steel City derby.
The German did, however, suggest the pressure is all on Sheffield United as they seek to justify their “£125m” valuation by sealing promotion back to the Premier League as the teams meet at Hillsborough for the first time since 2019.
Wilder avoided the subject but suggested United, for their part, will try to capitalise on the fact their opponents’ record at Hillsborough is poor compared to their form on the road.
Blades boss Wilder was filmed in a pub singing derogatory songs about the Owls and Rohl after his side’s 1-0 win at Bramall Lane in November.
The rivals meet in Sunday’s return with United locked in a fierce battle with Leeds United and Burnley for the two automatic promotion spots.
Consecutive wins for Wednesday, away to Plymouth Argyle and Norwich City, means they are five points off the play-off places with nine games left.
Rohl was asked about Wilder’s antics in the aftermath and simply replied “I’m looking forward to March”.
But when questioned about it by BBC Radio Sheffield this week he would only suggest he was seeking to harness the “positive energy” in his camp.
“I look to my team, which has shown big character in the last two games, two wins. I love my team as I said after the Norwich game,” Rohl said.
“I think what other guys thought about me and what they are doing after games is not my problem or my topic. I will not waste my energy to talk or think about this.
“For me it’s about coming with a lot of power and intensity. In the last two games we showed this.
