Still reeling from a 1-0 defeat at Spurs to close out the 2012-13 campaign, Sunderland head coach Paolo Di Canio used his post-match press conference to give his squad a verbal dressing down.
The Italian attacked his side’s lack of professionalism, arrogance and ignorance, citing the indiscretions of Phil Bardsley in midweek and stating that the defender would be ‘out’ of the squad.
‘He’s out of my squad,’ Di Canio told ESPN.
‘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 a very clear message since the beginning that there is not excuse to behave like he did.’
Di Canio continued:
‘If we don’t punish this kind of behaviour, how do [the academy players] 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?
‘It’s not acceptable. I thought that at Swindon, League Two, arrogant, ignorant footballers in some way so they don’t know exactly 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,’ stated Di Canio.
After a low-key first month in the job, Di Canio has turned up the heat over the last week, first reprimanding the attitude of striker Connor Wickham and now Bardsley as well as other unnamed individuals.
It will be a busy summer at The Stadium of Light with players who aren’t on board with the Di Canio ethos being shipped out as well as players who buy into the 44 year-old’s ideas being brought in.
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