It's hard to know if Paolo Di Canio is either pulling off a managerial masterstroke at Sunderland, transforming a struggling team into hungry challengers...or if he's simply going through a bit of a meltdown. After saying he was going to motivate 'playboy model' Connor Wickham by slapping his face 'a little bit', Di Canio has fined seven first team players in the last five days, some for not signing autographs
He has also ordered the players to train on the Monday after the last day of the season, after they wanted to fly out from London on holiday directly after their away game with Spurs this weekend. Di Canio said “They have 44 days' holidays. The minimum I am obliged to give them is 28, four weeks - 44 days is incredible. They have already had 100 days, probably!'
It wasn't all about cracking the whip though as Di Canio gave his coaching staff a day out at the beach. In the North Sea.
Sunderland staff enjoying Di Canio's generosity.