Paulo Di Canio lashes out at 'indisciplined' Sunderland players

Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio has vowed to get rid of players who have overstepped the line at the club.

Di Canio recently fined seven Sunderland players for discipline breach and labelled some of their behaviour as “pathetic”.

“These players will not be here next year – not under me,” said the Italian, without naming specific squad members.

He added: “The owner and I are going to sit at the table and go through but he knows many things.

“This is what he told me before: ‘Relax, don’t worry because we are going to change many things’, so it sounds like he supports me completely. We will see in the future.”

Di Canio was particularly angered by Bardsley and Kilgallon’s behaviour in midweek as they were pictured in a casino and were not included in the squad for Sunderland’s final game .

“It was disgusting. These people can’t train with me,” the former Swindon Town manager said.

“We were talking about strict rules. I discovered the day after that these people spent nearly all night out in the way you saw.

“I know someone can make a mistake – I did in the past, maybe not in that way. But every time we win, or we are happy, are we going to behave like this? It is ridiculous and pathetic.

“How can I play a player that probably is blurry for three, four days after what’s happened?

“I thought that at Swindon… [there were] arrogant, ignorant footballers because they’ve not had 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.”

Di Canio further went on to reveal an unnamed player who did not show up for training during the week because of food poisoning.

“Some player that couldn’t be involved in my squad today for a different reason decided ‘I don’t train today’”, he said.

“They make that diagnosis. The doctor tried to contact him. His phone was switched off for three hours. This is the situation at Sunderland.”

The Black Cats boss also said his players would be required to attend a sponsor’s event in Sunderland on Monday night before being allowed to go on leave.

Source: BBC sport