Di Canio interview (or rant!?)

[Guest San Don]

An interesting insight to how some players take the piss at a PL club.

 

He's as mad as a box of frogs and I've no idea if it will end in tears next season for him. He talks sense (or seems to!) but whether that transforms to better results or not, time will tell.

 

Paolo Di Canio issues 24-minute rant against Phil Bardsley and arrogant Sunderland players - Telegraph

 

 

 

The Italian's outburst was sparked by defender Phil Bardsley being photographed covered in £50 notes in a casino midweek. Read Di Canio's interview in full ...

 

Journalist: You wanted a good performance from the side...

Paolo di Canio: You are very generous. No, in terms of discipline, desire and commitment, nothing to say. I really think you know that they gave everything.

 

I told them, obviously, Bale once again, unfortunately made the difference but you can appreciate the goal he scored. It’s obvious that they should score even before. They deserved to stay 1-0 up early but in terms of commitment, desire to only say thanks to the players but that should be normal.

 

It’s obvious my frustration is because we didn’t cause more problems to the opponent but in general today, yes. I'm happy. Very happy.

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Because, after what’s happened during the week, it wasn’t easy. Coming here with 11 adults, or six, seven adults, some young on the field starting XI and six kids on the bench wasn’t easy. Until the end we were nearly able to pick a point. That is one of the only good things that happened today.

 

 

PHOTO: PHOTOBUCKET/PeterFTM365

 

Journalist: Can you explain what has happened with Phil Bardsley, and tell us any more about the pictures that appeared in the Sunday newspapers?

Paolo di Canio: You know more than me. I discover... I saw the picture on a website, the moment later, of the night that they spent out so what do I have to tell you? He’s out of my squad. It’s obvious. How I can play a player that probably is blurry for three, four days after what’s happened?

 

More important I want to deliver the very clear message I wanted to deliver since the beginning that there is not excuse to behave like he did, because Wigan lost the game, now we stay up, otherwise every time we are going to beat Man United what are we going to do? Or after every Newcastle game? What are we going to do, spend two nights out because we are happy?

 

I can understand if we win a Champions League or maybe an FA Cup. Even can have two glass of red wine I can understand because I know it is a different culture. It can happen also to me.

 

I celebrated a Uefa Cup with Juventus, more in the night, more drink but I can imagine because I don’t want to change the culture of the people but I told them, from the day before, from now I will be more strict because I will judge you more carefully because now we have to improve our professionalism.

 

We have to respect the dignity of the club and the fans because they still follow us in 3,000 people and the rules of the sport because, like we were happy when Swansea won against Wigan, we have to make sure we give everything to make difficulty Tottenham because Arsenal, obviously for ourselves, but also for the others.

 

The most important is for us but also for the sport in general. They have to care what is going on around us. But, if you don’t respect yourself, how can you respect the others?

 

Journalist: Does this affect his future?

Paolo di Canio: I will think really carefully. Always I give a second chance to the people. We are talking about 31 years of age (Bardsley is 27) not a kid, with a family at home. I’m not here to be a priest, to convince the people to be different but to talk about my club and my team. We have a fantastic academy. We have young that they have the changing room next to the adult.

 

If we don't punish this kind of behaviour, what are we talking about, a fantastic academy? They're going to sprint down, get the boots and say 'good morning' to everybody? They're very educated people, but if we don't punish this kind of behaviour, how do they grow up? Thinking they can laugh about what they saw on the website picture? Maybe they think it's fantastic; to be like a gangster. But what mentality are we going to deliver?

 

Sometimes I discovered here at Sunderland - and at many other places, unfortunately - there is always a fantastic Christmas box. Then inside...oh, nothing. There is a piece of chocolate that's open already. We have to put something in this box - maybe you like a diamond? - otherwise we're always talking and we close our eyes and we're never going to change. In the future I will be very clear with the players.

 

Journalist: Is this about changing English drinking culture?

Paolo di Canio: It's not an English culture, just a different culture. I don't want to change the culture because I love England. When you decide to work in an environment there is positive and negative. I know this part. I was speaking with Andre (Villas-Boas) before and it's normal, but not often and not at the wrong time. There is time and time.

 

Tonight I can imagine, even after the Newcastle game, I can imagine. But not like we saw (on Tuesday night). That is something really wrong. It's disgusting me even to see the image for the club. It's not about going out with your friend and getting back at two o'clock or three o'clock, which is late. But you can close one eye. But not full of alcohol and walking like this. They have to behave well.

 

It takes three or four days (to recover). I realised in the morning because I didn't see the picture, to be honest, I told my assistant manager: 'I don't play Phil Sunday or today.'

 

'Why?'

 

'Look. I speak to him and he look in the sky. He can't listen what I'm going to tell him. He's blurry. I don't know what's happened.'

 

The day after I discovered what had happened and, obviously, I ring my player and I discovered it was a really, really bad situation. I discovered that out with him were other players, but the others left the two guys before, to get into the casino and stay there until early in the morning, which is completely different.

 

Obviously, Tuesday night they went out together, had dinner and watched the game. They are allowed to do this. They had a drink, celebrated and they were happy. I can imagine. Ten o'clock, 11 o'clock, MIDNIGHT...but not exaggerate. What I saw is not acceptable for my club and for my squad. That is not acceptable.

 

Talking about mentality it's not only the manager. All my staff, we have to make sure that when we bring in players they are good professionals because they have to influence each other. The dressing room is their kingdom. I can't put the strict rules to help them to understand we have to behave in a different way. We need to bring in six or seven players who know how to behave and have a professional ethic and then they can help each other. Otherwise, for me, it's difficult.

 

 

PHOTO: PHOTOBUCKET/PeterFTM365

 

Journalist: Will you make changes for next season?

Paolo di Canio: Talking about mentality, it's not only the manager. All my staff, we have to make sure that when we bring in players they are good professionals because they have to influence each other. The dressing room is their kingdom. I can put the strict rules to help them to understand we have to behave in a different way but we need to bring in six or seven players who know how to behave and have a professional ethic and then they can help each other. Otherwise, for me, it's difficult.

 

In general, we need to bring in quality, particularly up front, because to win games you need to score. We don't score many goals.

 

Journalist: Harry Redknapp has fined one player more than he earns this month. Are you finding you are having to fine more players than you expected? Paolo di Canio: At the beginning I thought it was difficult. Week by week, daily, I discover we have more problems than I expected. That's why I said to everybody we made a miracle [to survive] because what we discovered this week is only one aspect of the problems we've got. It doesn't mean that everybody goes out every night and has a drink session - no.

 

In general, talking about professionalism or the job we want to deliver or rules. I go mad. I tell you this. What's happened to Bardsley is a far path for me, for what's happened in the last 3 days … few other players. In a week, I gave in seven players' hands, seven fines. Even for small things. Half an hour late.

 

Journalist: Is David Vaughan next (after his red card against Tottenham)?

Paolo di Canio: No, in this kind of situation, two yellow cards. We can help him to understand it is a moment in the game, no no no. Different reasons. Obviously Craig sent off (against Aston Villa) it was clear it was a silly silly challenge. He has to be punished in some way. He got a three-match ban. He said sorry.But we live in life. I was drive fast two months ago. I say sorry but I get fined. Probably they gonna deduct six points. I was wrong. Picture. That wasn't public! I should sent other information. Maybe my brother. Paolo di Canio was guilty, I have to pay the price. Otherwise I am never going to have self-discipline. So we have to help the people to understand that they have to take responsibility.

 

This week. Seven fined and this morning, and this morning once again … even if I didnt care about what has happened at Academy of Light … some player that could involve for different reason in my squad today. They decide I don't train today. They made the diagnosis. One player didnt go to Academy of Light because he said yesterday, I had food poisoning. Sorry, are you doctor? The doctor tried to contact him? Three hours he switched off the telephone. This is the situation at SUNDERLAND.

 

This is why I tell you we made a miracle. Previously eight games with three points. With Di Canio, seven games and eight points. That is the miracle we made. And without the strikers, because before there was Fletcher, Stephane, Craig available. Three top strikers

 

That is the miracle we made. But we cant make a misracle forever so we have to change a lot of things. If they want to change something they have to follow me, otherwise it's difficult to get better results than what they got in the last few years.

 

Journalist: Have you spoken to the owner? Will he support you?

Paolo di Canio: He knows many things. I spoke to him before. He told me we are going to change many things. This is what he told me before. Relax. We are going to change many things so it sounds that he supports me completely. We will see in the future.

 

Journalist: You said you have fined seven players. Can you tell us what for?

Paolo di Canio: No, different reasons, different rules. They are not my rules. They are the rule you have in every club. If you are injured. You know that you have a plan. You know that in the morning, you have treatment. In the afternoon, you have to go in the pool. And you leave at lunchtime and you switch off the telephone and nobody can contact you all day. You have to get fined.

 

But this is not Paolo dI Canio. When I gave the fine in his hands the day after, he was surprised. Before it was normal. To leave the training ground and switch off the telephone.

 

Then the day after, everybody forgot, because it was more convenient, they dont have friction with the player, probably. I don't care. To have argument with my players but I have to go through the rules. This was one.

 

Then there were a few others. If you think after Aston Villa, we lost 6-1, I gave the appointment at 4pm in the afternoon. Somebody arrived at 20 past four. I didnt give them an appointment at 7am. At 4pm, someone arrived late. What sense of responsibility do they have?

 

They live five minutes from Academy of Light. I was waiting there in the corridor. Three, four players arrived by walking. Not running. This was the behaviour in the Premier League. A club that every year spent millions and millions. It's not acceptable.

 

I thought that at Swindon, League Two, arrogant, ignorant footballers in some way, so they don't know exactly because there are not many chances to stay at the top level. I have to tell you unfortunately, I found a worse environment in terms of discipline in this club.

 

This is what I found in the last three weeks so we have to change completely. It will be very hard if I dont receive the maximum support from the board because I know that every time the player will go to the PFA. The PFA will call and you have to let them speak, and they excuse people that behave like Phil Bardsley and you can't fine them.

 

Let them speak, they them explain. What is there to say? They are under a private club. It's a private club that pay them. PFA dont pay. We have to defend the professionalism and the dignity. They have to understand. We receive already a phone call, it was a clear misconduct. Yeah, but you have to . Hey, lads, the club pay them. Not you. It happened to me many times at Swindon. Now we have to be more sensible. But it's very difficult to change.

 

Journalist: Will the players you have fined still be at Sunderland next year, if you can control that?

Paolo di Canio: No. Not under me.

 

Journalist: Will you get the financial backing you need to do that?

Paolo di Canio: I know that there is a plan. The picture is clear before me. I have told about it already. I am head coach, the others have to handle the financial situation. I have said we need this player, this quality, in this position, show me the player we can go and I tell them yes this player is ok.

 

Journalist: Will you cut the players' holiday time?

Paolo di Canio: For the players? The next few days we will be in together because previously once again the people you see organised during the week to go from London to Hawaii, Miami. They was thinking four or five days ago we will organise the bags, my wife, my girlfriend, we go together. Not possible.

 

Today (Sunday) we fly back to Sunderland, our city, as a team. We stay tomorrow (Monday) together with the kids' sponsors which we have a job to do with this then players have international football the others will stay together. We will enjoy it and then they can go on holiday.

 

Journalist: Can we just ask about today's game? Did you think Spurs should have had two penalties? Did Bale deserve a yellow card for diving?

Paolo di Canio: I saw only the challenge shoulder to shoulder. I didn't see if there were crossed legs. I don't know what happend. Its difficult for me to focus. The Bale one can be a yellow card or a penalty, sometimes it's 50-50. I saw that it was contact but it wasn't clear. I don't know about the other one. I am not sure if he (Cuellar) opened his arms. If you do it's a penalty but I don't know. It was 70 yards away.

 

Journalist: Can Spurs compete with Arsenal and maybe challenge for the title?

Paolo di Canio: With this manager, with Andre, and with two or three top, top (signings) it will be easy. That bit, it take a lot, you need a big big quality, another top top striker because Defoe and Adebayor they can guarantee goals but they need a top top striker up front, in my opinion.

 

If they do get one they are in contention for the league because Man City and Chelsea are going to reinforce their team and Mourinho will probably come back but the job that they have done already this year is amazing.

[dave u 7,474]

Phil Bardsley has always looked like a knobhead to me, so this doesn't surprise me.

 

Di Canio is going to be great entertainment for the few more months he's there!

[Captain 686]

I like Paolo di Canio. Speaks a lot of sense in that rant.

[DT 100]

"I can understand if we win a Champions League or maybe an FA Cup. Even can have two glass of red wine I can understand because I know it is a different culture. It can happen also to me."

 

I wonder what he would have made of the Arsenal celebrations over coming fourth...

[Major Tom 897]

Refers to himself in the third person.

 

Twat.

[lightother 2]

He won't last 6 months ! The players will sort him out.

[Bjornebye 33,120]

I like him. bardsley is a cunt.

[Son of L8 269]

Lessons in discipline from an Italian fascist. Better listen up yo.

[Gym Beglin 1,429]

Sunderland players sound like a set of twats. Sounds like Andy Carroll's sort of club.

[BCM 1,153]

Like the cut of his jib, least he talks with passion about the game, you get some managers in interviews and you could have written the answers before they had answered the question.

[Garrincha 6]

I think he's 100% right. Even if you get paid minimum wage, you wouldn't dream of turning up for your job 20 minutes late, you'd get fired. These players are on 10,000 plus per week and cant even be arsed to turn up to designated appointments on time. As for the photo, go out and have a drink to celebrate, but staying up till 4am, getting bladdered, spraying 50 pound notes around you as you lay comatose on the floor, it's a disgraceful example to set.

[Longview1982 158]

Given the physical demands of the modern game, and the fact that your opponent has probably prepared themselves properly for the game, I'm not sure why someone like Bardsley would even want to do that with a game coming up.

 

The season finishes in a few days. Can he not wait a week before he goes on holiday and no-one will give a shit? Fucking stupid thing to do and deserves all the stick coming his way.

[dandyman 329]

See the political knobhead Gordon Taylor has stuck his two-penneth in on this one. He should keep his gob shut.

 

DiCanio is spot on here, these players are taking the piss out of the manager, club and fans. Apparently some of them refused to turn up for a "Charity Shirt Signing", ignorant pricks.

 

I hope DiCanio sorts them out, if I turned up late for work, I'd be straight on a disciplinary, it seems that Gordon Taylor, doesn't think that way, and that we should powder footballers arses with fluffy cottonwool. Some of them should take a look at what it's like to live in the real world.

 

Either DiCanio and the club come out of this better, or Gordon Taylor wins, and he'll end up ruining the club

[Anubis 21,337]

Gordon Taylor is a fucking jumped up garden gnome who thinks his charges are little cherubs unless they wear a Liverpool shirt, whereupon they get thrown to the wolves, as Suarez and Fowler can attest to.

[Guest San Don]

Gordon Taylor is a fucking jumped up garden gnome who thinks his charges are little cherubs unless they wear a Liverpool shirt, whereupon they get thrown to the wolves, as Suarez and Fowler can attest to.

 

This.

 

Makes me wonder why the papers havent done a job on him yet.

[navbasi 438]

I agree with what he says but I don't agree with his method. He needs to calm down a bit and make sure he has the full support of the board as he'll be the one gone by Christmas. The board/chairman also need to put a rocket up these players arses because otherwise Di Canio will be hung out to dry.