Not content with renouncing fascism, Paolo Di Canio is continuing to turn preconceptions on their head as he gets to grips with the task of trying to preserve Sunderland's Premier League status. In his previous job at Swindon Town Di Canio adopted a dictatorial approach to management but since succeeding Martin O'Neill at the Stadium of Light on Sunday evening, he seems to have embraced a few democratic principles. Indeed on Thursday Sunderland's new manager extolled the virtues of communicating with his squad. "You obviously need to sit down and have a chat with your players," he said. "We have done that. I have had a look at the players, the experienced ones, the young ones, the ones who look confident and the ones who maybe are not confident. We have done tests on them and we have asked them what they feel about what has happened in recent weeks. "We have carried out intelligence on them and I have listened to the opinions of people like John O'Shea [the former Manchester United defender, currently captaining Sunderland in the absence of the injured Lee Cattermole] and others. "I have to have my own ideas but it's important to communicate with players. Sometimes you can do it in a quiet chat, sometimes you need a confrontation, but the players here have been very helpful. They understand the need is for belief and confidence at the moment." Sunderland, with seven games remaining, have failed to win any of their last eight fixtures and stand one point above the relegation zone ahead of Sunday's trip to Chelsea, and such an approach seems eminently sensible. Di Canio, though, has not entirely discarded the stick in favour of the carrot. At the Academy of Light his charges have become used to running for at least one hour a day without the ball, working on positioning and team pattern. They have also been told there will be few, if any, days off between now and the end of the season, while shopping and golf in their spare time is frowned on as a waste of time. Meanwhile, new dietary restrictions have been introduced. Such developments probably come as no surprise to Trevor Sinclair, whose relationship with Di Canio was cited as evidence that the Italian is not racist. Sinclair, who is black, said the Italian's past claims that he was a fascist â an ideology Di Canio finally distanced himself from via a statement on Sunderland's website on Wednesday when he said "I am not a racist and I do not support the ideology of fascism. I respect everyone" â should be "taken with a pinch of salt". "We genuinely got on well," said Sinclair, a former winger and West Ham team-mate of Di Canio who, since retiring as a player, has moved to Dubai where he works as a coach. "Paolo's comments should be taken with a pinch of salt because he's as mad as a hatter."
Good read mate...I bet some of the players will be in a state of shock with the level of training etc at the moment..
I hope so mate, quite a few of them have looked disinterested in recent weeks! I'm starting to wish Ellis had acted sooner, because I don't think we'd have seen the lacklustre displays against QPR and Norwich if he had.
Interesting approach.... it really annoyed me about how much crap the players where talking about on twitter rarther then studying the game... Movies, Tv, Golf, Sport, Betting, food ect... all the day after losses BTW Hi guys long time no see
I don think any of them will take a lacklustre approach to the next 7 games for sure. Can you imagine Johnson getting a wellie up the jacksie as he is draggged off after another pap performance for his £50k. Bet the players are ****ing bricks in case its them that gets the focus of unwanted PDC attention in games. Keep the bastards on their toes alright.
Hi Guys have to be honest... not really been seen much of sunderland this season so couldn really comment on any forums... taken a key interest in non league football and been supporting my two local clubs home and away
I like the above, my brother and I call it being in "The monastery" Its what we do when were training for a 1/2 marathon. I hope we see the fruits of harder training and leaner stronger players.