15 May 2013 8:30 SIN-BINNED Stephane Sessegnon and Craig Gardner are being worked harder than their team-mates on the training ground, despite their seasons having been brought to a premature end. The duo received red cards against Aston Villa and Stoke City respectively, earning them three game bans which prevented them from being involved in the final few games of Sunderlandâs season. But far from being allowed to coast through to the end of the season, the duo are being made to focus on fitness and football regimes aimed at ensuring they come back better players next season. âThey work more than the others,â Paolo Di Canio revealed to the Echo. âJust because they canât play, itâs still an occasion to build their strength and fitness â after all, in a weekâs time, they will have a holiday. âAlthough we think they are fantastic professionals, we donât know whether they will have one monthâs rest and come back for pre-season not strong enough to come through. âSo, now, if itâs possible they work harder than the others under me to give them a much better chance of coming back fitter and sharper. âIf you allow them to go on holiday after being sent off, you can imagine players TRYING to get a three-match ban! âThatâs the end of the world in my opinion. âPlayers are going to try to tackle badly and then get two weeks off to go to Dubai? âNo, no, no. âEven though we trust them, pro-action is better than reaction.â The Italian was quick to point out though that that it is far from solitary confinement and punishment drills for two players who could and should have been helping their team-mates out on the pitch in these last few games. âThey join in with training of course and they enjoy their football but we make it clear that for them it is all about trying to help their team-mates,â he said. âThey are not just training for themselves in these situations â they need to focus in training on doing anything they can which will help benefit the team on match day. âWe have a small squad, so these two can still make important contributions in training. âThat is how it should be. They might not be able to play but perhaps they can assist their team-mates in playing better. âJust because they are out of the side, they are not forgotten.â
Have to say, when I hear this bloke talk he makes absolute sense. He is very much a football man and is very much involved in the game. Seems to know what the fans want to see and hear and hearing that he wants these players heavily involved because they aren't playing makes me like him even more!
