Paolo Di Canio has warned his Sunderland players not to bank on a quick get-away for their summer holidays.
The Black Cats will be playing their football in the Barclays Premier League next season as a result of Wigan’s 4-1 defeat at Arsenal on Tuesday evening, and Di Canio’s men will head for Tottenham on Sunday knowing only their pride and the chance to climb a little further from the foot of the table will be at stake.
But while he congratulated the men he inherited from predecessor Martin O’Neill on their achievement, the 44-year-old Italian has told them not to take their suntan lotion and beachwear with them to White Hart Lane.
He said: “In the past, they told me, they used to fly as a 20 [on the final day of the season], and then 17 would fly everywhere.
“Everybody has to come back on the plane. We will stay another two days together to say thank you and then they can have a holiday.
“People can’t disappear like this. We are not a parks team, we don’t go together and then you go in a car, you go there, see you next year.
“No. We are a team, we fly together, we play together, we fly back together and then I will let them know when they can go.”
Di Canio’s tough stance is part of the new mentality he wants to instil in the club which employed him at the end of March.
He has revealed he has already had to hand out seven fines to players who have breached discipline, and he has vowed to continue to punish offenders until the message gets through.
Indeed, he is threatening to slash the length of holiday he will allow his players if they do not turn in a fitting performance at high-flying Spurs.
He said: “I told them we can win, draw or lose with dignity, respecting the club’s name and the fans who follow them. But if not, I will reduce their holiday.
“I will give them the minimum I can give to them, which is four weeks, 28 days instead of probably 38, 40 or 41.
“It depends because in some way we have to start to change the mentality. Just because I fell in a trap against Aston Villa, I don’t want to fall in a trap again.
“I am sure that four or five individuals don’t need this kind of situation, but many others have to realise we need to change mentality or we have to use punishments in some way.
“It’s not fair, but until the day I am sure that my players can go on the field and in some ways I can remain at home, I have to use anything I can to help change their mentality.”