Sheffield United's Phil Jagielka: 'Our best form of defence is aggressive attacking play'

The defender marked his first appearance of the season in the Blades' 3-3 draw against Manchester United on Sunday

Sheffield United's Oliver McBurnie, right, celebrates after making it 3-3 against Manchester United at Bramall Lane. AFP

Sheffield United's Oliver McBurnie scores their third goal. Reuters

Mason Greenwood scores Manchester United's second goal. Getty

Brandon Williams scores Manchester United's first goal. Reuters

Brandon Williams celebrates his goal. Getty

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford celebrates after scoring his side's third goal. PA

Lys Mousset of Sheffield United scores his sides second goal. Getty

Lys Mousset, left, of Sheffield United celebrates after scoring. Getty

John Fleck scores Sheffield United's first goal. Getty

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Reuters

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, right, and his Sheffield United counterpart Chris Wilder. PA

David McGoldrick, left, of Sheffield United and Manchester United's Fred. Getty

John Fleck, right, of Sheffield United celebrates after scoring. Getty

Harry Maguire of Manchester United. Getty

Sheffield United's David McGoldrick, left, and Phil Jones of Manchester United. PA

Sheffied United on the attack against Sheffield United. Getty

Manchester United's Harry Maguire shoots at goal. Reuters

Sheffield United's John Fleck scores their first goal. Reuters

Manchester United's Anthony Martial. Reuters

Sheffield United's Lys Mousset, left, and Brandon Williams of Manchester United. PA

Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson in the stands at Bramall Lane. Reuters

Sheffield United's David McGoldrick shoots at goal. Reuters

Manchester United's Andreas Pereira is challenged by Lys Mousset of Sheffield United. Reuters

Phil Jagielka thinks Sheffield United have been rewarded for their fearless approach against the top clubs and have proved attack can be the best form of defence for the underdogs.

The promoted Blades scored three goals in drawing with Manchester United on Sunday and have also beaten Arsenal and drawn away at Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea.

Chris Wilder named a starting XI against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side that cost around £15 million (Dh71m), featured only two summer signings and included 10 players who had featured for the Yorkshire club in the lower leagues.

And former Everton captain Jagielka, who made his first Premier League start for the club since 2007 on Sunday, believes they have been justified in taking a cheaper approach.

The 37-year-old defender said: “If you sit in and wait to be beaten, game in game out, you might nick a win or a draw but as it stands our best form of defence is the aggressive attacking play. But at the same extent we are not leaving ourselves being wide open and going gung-ho. There is an element of using your brains as well.

Lys Mousset, who scored on Sunday, cost £10 million when he joined from Bournemouth and Jagielka deputised for the injured John Egan but manager Wilder has otherwise opted for continuity.

And Jagielka added: “When a promoted team does so well, sometimes they get torn apart. They spend hundreds of millions and they think that is the right way of doing things. The gaffer and this club decided to bring one or two in and it has worked massively so it is logical, sticking with the team ethic.”

Wilder’s 3-5-2 formation has posed opponents problems and Manchester United’s attempt to adopt a similar shape at Bramall Lane backfired.

Jagielka said: “You have got two ways of playing: do you adapt to try and counteract what we’re doing or do you think your version of how you want to play is going to work? So it is a game of chess. They tried to go three at the back and it is a difficult formation if you are not used to playing it. They were more comfortable with a four in the second half.”

Sheffield United, who were widely tipped for relegation, are sixth and Jagielka believes they have been underestimated.

“Physically we can mix it with anyone,” he added. “Technically [we are] maybe underrated. We have got some fantastic players but we will happily be underrated and pick up points.”