The Italian has stated his ambitions for the Premier League strugglers and thanks the club for giving him a âfantastic opportunityâ, despite his controversial past Paolo Di Canio has hailed Sunderland as one of the biggest clubs in Europe, following his appointment to replace the sacked Martin O'Neill. Di Canio's arrival has been greeted with mixed emotions from Sunderland fans and the wider footballing community, with fresh questions asked about his managerial pedigree and reportedly fascist beliefs. But the Italian was full of praise for the club and the city on his unveiling, and has promised he will make it his "mission" to help Sunderland avoid relegation. âThis is a fantastic opportunity for me and my staff to have a chance to work for one of the biggest clubs not only in England, but in Europe,â Di Canio told the club's official website. âTo work for a club which has over 40,000 people when we play at home is amazing. âWhat I can say is I donât like to promise anything to anyone, because the words can fly away sometimes,â he said. âFor sure the fans should know they have a manager who will work 26 hours per day, not 24, because this is my mission.â Sunderland are currently 16th in the Premier League and one point off the drop zone, but Di Canio insists the privilege he feels at being given this opportunity matches the best feelings in football. âI felt at Swindon like I was at Barcelona, because for me it was the best job and a big privilege to be a manager and I wanted to be a manager,â he added. âHow do I feel here? Probably like Brazil in the 1970s. âI know Sunderland fans are very passionate people and itâs an extra lift for me. I have a big opportunity thanks to the club. âWe want to make people enjoy and be proud of the way we are going to play our game. You can win, you can lose or you can draw, but it depends how it happens. âWe have to honour the shirt every time and walk from the field not only full of sweat, but [metaphorically] full of blood if you know what I mean. âThatâs crucial. It was my philosophy as a player and I want to deliver it as an ex-footballer and a manager. Thatâs my message to the players.â
Aye mate just been saying to comm he's winding the world up already without even trying these last 7 games should be great.
Don't understand where the media are getting the opinion we are split from. Obviously some wont like PDC but I think I'm in the vast majority when I say....I can't bloody wait to see what he can do.
Can think of a couple of our lot not too happy and fair play to them they've said as much but, as you say the majority are more than happy.
Nice to talk a big game and with not much expected from us against Chelsea his big test will be the following fixture. Let's hope his results match his rhetoric.
Looking forward to the end of this season,stopping-up under Paulo,and playing a more attractive style of football next season in the Premiership!!
Liverpool fan in peace Dont know what it is but ive got a feeling he may be your most successful manager in a long time, say 50 yrs
Just got that feelin, will be amazed if you go down now hes in charge, can see a bright future for you, with all the hubabaloo over his appointment ,can really see him being a huge success
Ellis Short deserves a pat on the back for having the bottle to sack a manager this late in the season especially one with a big reputation Like MON. He's thothht outside the box and gone for a new approach in PDC. The main thing any side needs in a relegation scrap is fight and passion-we currently have zero of this! This is the most exciting managerial appointment in my 38 years supporting sunland. Can't wait!
I've not posted on this board for some time but really wanted to say as controversial as Paolo may be, he is a committed manager, with a tremendous work ethic, when some of the Swindon players were interviewed when they were on the verge of promotion, they said he'd only let them have Christmas day off from training! He sacked a player who'd only been with Swindon a matter of weeks, which shows his resolve, and determination, his enthusiasm and love of the sport is undeniable. He's been employed for his Managerial skills, and not his political views, people must draw their own conclusions on that score, I've been following him for quite some time now, he seems to appreciate the chance he's been given to manage your club, it's a unfortunate he's surrounded by this controversy, but God knows there may be other public figures out there who's political views remain undisclosed.
It looks like many of the genuine fans of other clubs are now starting to see past this media witch hunt against our club..
What about the silent majority who have seen it all before & choose not to shout from the rooftops. Same old dreams I’m afraid. I’ll settle for few EPL appearances every few years in dispersed with the odd good Cup run. I just hope he can put a few wins together & keep us in the EPL. If we go down & he can’t get us back up next season you’ll see him turned on as past managers have been & O’Neill’s departure will look like an afternoon tea party.
