Sunderland Head Coach Paolo Di Canio says Black Cats’ owner Ellis Short backed him ‘1000%’ after the furore surrounding his appointment.
Di Canio, 44, admitted to BBC Sport that he feared being sacked by Short just days after his appointment following the outcry over his political beliefs.
The American business stood by his man and has quickly been rewarded for his faith in the former Swindon Town boss, who has delivered six points from nine on offer.
‘He [chairman Ellis Short] might have thought, ‘Now I’ll sack him straight away’ because he was under pressure,’ admitted Di Canio.
‘Instead he backed me 100%, 1,000%. He supported me in an incredible way.’
Sunderland take on Aston Villa in this evening’s Monday Night Football knowing that another three points would move them significantly closer to Premier League survival.
For Di Canio, the backing of Short has been crucial in the success of his brief tenure:
‘From there, I felt even more energy, I was even more focused and even more determined to get the best out of the team, and I believed that no matter what the split with fans, I would look to make them happy as quickly as I could.’
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