Paolo Di Canio: Plans to continue berating players

Di Canio singled out captain John O'Shea following his sending off as Sunderland lost 3-1 at Crystal Palace.

The Italian's man-management style was questioned by several pundits, but Di Canio insists he has no plans to change his approach.

"Harry Redknapp did many interviews last year and no one asked why he said his team was playing rubbish. Why is it only Paolo Di Canio?" he said.

"Maybe after three or four games a player will moan about the gaffer and say, "Oh, it's tough". The common theory is that there are big egos and if you upset them you have problems and they get upset.

"But my relationship with my players is closer than you think. It means that I can point the finger straight away and say, 'For your level, it is rubbish'.

"You think the new generation is weak? I say if they are weak they cannot play football at this level. It is natural selection."

Di Canio has also been studying Sir Alex Ferguson's speech on management at Harvard University and he is a believer in Ferguson's thinking that a manager must never lose control to his players.

Di Canio added: "Here. Sir Alex Ferguson. Point No.4. Never, ever cede control. This is Paolo Di Canio. This is why I'm at top level."