Reaction From Swindon Boss Paolo Di Canio

Last updated : 16 September 2012 By Thetashkentterror

Town manager Paolo Di Canio spoke to BBC Radio Wiltshire after his side's 2-2 League One draw against Carlisle at Brunton Park, Di Canio not happy with the Robins only taking a point out of a game they dominated for large patches:

 

"I am not the typical manager that after three defeats is worried and then away from home accept the result and think that with one point we have stopped the negative moment. Because, it is a shame to go out from this ground not only without winning, but without winning by four or five goals. So, I am not happy and I want to send this mentality to my players, now we have to change the player mentality of some individuals because I saw many selfish attitudes that can come from maybe new players or someone who has come back from injury.

"I don't like some of the situations we saw at the end of the game, I am talking about effective football like keeping the ball like Barcelona, but we are not Barcelona so we lose the ball counter-attacking. We could have ended up even losing the game through one or two stupid moments so that doesn't make me happy. Obviously, we have improved from last week but it is a shame today to go away with this result because I want to bring a strong mentality.

"We did enough to win and I told my players that I will defend them with all my life but they have to be brave, I don't want worried people because worried people are can't win the league or stay in the top six or top eight because it is not possible. Carlisle had two shots and got two goals from two bad defensive mistakes from us for two crappy goals, we have to defend in a line and as a unit and not as individuals.

"We were 32 or 34 times in their box two v two or three v three and the ball remained there and no-one was angry enough to score a goal. So, we have to improve from now the individual determination and feel the responsiblity. We should have attacked differently with some anger, we have to die for the ball and die for the challenge, every time we have a chance we don't finish it on a corner kick or anything.

"It is part of the game to get to the ball first and try to do something but we never do this. The opponents against us always score a sloppy goal or a rough goal, for us the mechanism we have got works but it's not enough. We create enough chances but next time we have to score because now it's true that we don't play fantastic but if you create eight clear chances we have to score more. I have taken as many positives as I can from this game, but I am still angry.

"It is important that we have desire and we don't play with regret and fear because it is better to make a mistake by doing something positive. If we don't then it gives our opponent confidence to press us, and they couldn't handle our quality and level of fitness but we didn't take our chances so in general now we have to gradually build the confidence, as some of the players aren't strong, but we are all different.

"It is obvious that when Gary Roberts goes one v one and delivers the ball he is a very dangerous guy. He attacked the back post in a fantastic way and he was unlucky not to score, the goalkeeper (Mark Gillespie) made a fantastic save. He needs to play less tippy-tappy tippy-tappy but I can accept it and I can understand it because it was his first game back and he was feeling his way into the game.

"I respect my opponents today but in a long run we should finish 20 points ahead of them. It is a shame it finished 2-2, but if we want to win many games we need to have better instinct and we need to stop moving the ball around the edge of the box without ambition. But, it is obvious that we are a work in progress so it will take a bit longer, but today we saw straight away that we will stay nearer to the top eight if we change our mentality in some situations."

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile Di Canio also spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips after the game, Di Canio first reflecting on his day out in Carlisle:

"It is far from Swindon but it is a fantastic place to play football, beautiful weather to play football and a lot of people came to watch. It is obvious from my point of view that it is a shame that we didn't win, because we are on top for most of the game. But, this is football, we want to play attractive football but with a better result maybe. The pitch is fantastic, beautiful, no excuse, when we made a mistake it was our fault because it is one of the best that I have seen in the last two years.

"When you come into a new league you can see it is a different level and tougher because every mistake you make you get punished harder. I am looking forward to building a mentality that we can stay close to the top eight, it would be fantastic for my club because we are new in League One and if we could achieve that position then it would be fantastic.

"Carlisle are a group of fellas that work hard for the result, they have discipline and desire, some individuals, (Matty) Robson, (Danny) Cadamarteri, fantastic quality players. Jake Jervis scored two goals and I know him, he was with me last year, on his day he is a fantastically talented player. They have a long serving player (Peter) Murphy that has played over 400 games, so it is a good group that will fight to stay in a good position this year.

"We went a few times into the box three v three but they put their foot in to defend the goal and it is something that you can sometimes learn. Because, sometimes even when you are up against fantastic quality you can reduce the gap with this determination to fight for something, the moment, the shirt. I know that in this atmosphere the fans can blame me but you can see at the end when the fans clap their hands they are being sporting.

"They clapped their hands because at the end they respected how we played with loyalty, honesty, no cheating, nobody trying to tackle to damage your opponents and we played some good football. English people in general appreciate this kind of behaviour, and I am happy because this is why I am in England. Because, it is the best football and the best sporting moments you can live when you go to the stadium.

"I don't know if Carlisle can be up there at the top because what you can think today can change tomorrow. With the squad we have got and the options we have got I hope and presume we can stay on top of them, but everything can be possible, maybe they can finish 20 points above us. To be honest my team have to stay close to the top eight, if Carlisle is good then they can also stay there."