Paolo Di Canio spat in his OWN face in a bizarre rant at his Sunderland players at the end of his managerial reign, writes Alan Nixon in the Sunday People.
The fiery Italian remarkably showed his anger at the team’s display against West Brom with his party trick before a furious verbal assault on his flops.
Di Canio took a drink of water, sprayed it upwards, let it fall on his face and rubbed it in. He did this a few times in front of his shocked men.
Then the Black Cats' under-pressure boss told his team “that is what you have done to me, spat in my face” before telling them to do it to themselves.
Di Canio made an even more rude suggestion about what he would like to have thrown at his team – one that cannot be published here.
This prompted a war of words, with some players saying that is exactly what he has been doing to them with his insults.
Di Canio would not back down and then questioned their character and willingness to get hurt in tackles.
One player said they would have shown more spirit for a manager they respected rather one who criticised them in public.
The rage between Di Canio and his disenchanted side went on – and continued the next day at the training ground.
Di Canio ended the ranting session by telling the players they could phone owner Ellis Short if they wanted him sacked.
The Italian gave the team permission to call Short and apparently did not think that would make any difference – as he felt he would be backed.
However, a series of calls were made to the London-based American and that swayed the decision and forced his exit.
Short had told confidantes that Di Canio “would get until the Newcastle game” to turn it around.
He made that decision in the aftermath of West Brom but his time-table changed entirely when he found out the depth of anti-Di Canio feeling.
Culled from Daily Mirror
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