Di Canio: 'Southend are where they are because they deserve to be'
Swindon Town boss Paolo Di Canio is not a man not known for his understatement, and believes Tuesday evening's promotion six-pointer with his side at Roots Hall has the importance of a Champions League Final!
Certainly victory would take the Robins in to the top three, as a win for the Shrimpers would take them back to the top of League Two.
Di Canio told www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk: "This game is a Champions League final for us because it gives us the chance to catch Southend if we win. If we beat them, we will catch them and catch Crawley and it will mean we have got another game against promotion rivals out of the way."
Southend will be attempting to defeat the Wiltshire side for the first time after two previous defeats, the last in the JPT regional semi-final, a 2-1 defeat Roots Hall, a result Di Canio believes was deserved.
He said:"We were on top in our last game against them. They may have hit the bar but we created at least three clear-cut chances in the first half. In the second half it was 50-50 and they scored a goal from our own mistake at the back, where Sturrock finished from a rebound."
The tempremental Italian then goes on one of his strange rants where he puts everything into perspective!
Di Canio continued: "They are above us at the moment and even though they have had nine days without a game, they come from two defeats. We come from just one defeat. They are where they are because they deserve to be because what they had done before the last two games was an amazing period of performances, but the last couple performances have shown they can lose against any side. It will be tough though because they will want revenge for losing twice already to us this season, but we are not worried about this and it is important that we use our energy and anger the right way. If we play our football then I believe we can have another win."
Well, that's telling us.
Midfielder Simon Ferry will be in the squad after recovering from a poor tackle by Leicester's Paul Konchesky's in the 2-0 fourth round FA Cup defeat on Saturday, but star centre-back Aden Flint is definitely out due to a groin problem which may keep him on the sidelines for longer than they would have liked.
Inverness midfielder Lee Cox has now signed for the Robins on a two & a half year contract for around £50,000, no news if he is travelling down with the team.
However one player who seems to be on his way out is Algerinan striker Mehdi Kerrouche.
Di Canio confirmed there had been interest from another fourth tier club but has yet to receive any firm offers.
He explained: "If he doesn't leave before tonight he will remain here, but we will see. At the moment we have a lot of strikers who work so hard and give desire, passion and work so hard with their teammates.They gel completely with the rest of their teammates so I am not worried in this way because I have a lot of strikers. Anything can happen in life but it is difficult for him because the football I want now is different from what I can have from him."
And we will see what sort of footy that is soon enough.
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