Di Canio dismissal was too hasty, says Celustka
Ondrej Celustka believes the decision to sack Paolo Di Canio was made too quickly and is sad to see the back of the manager who brought him to Sunderland.
Defender Celustka, one of the 14 players signed by Di Canio, can understand why the club felt the need to act but also has some sympathy for the Italian and has told the Czech media that the new-look squad should have been given time to gel.
"Naturally, I am glad that I have been given chance to play right from the start and that I have played in all fixtures," Celustka is quoted as telling CTK.
"It's an enormous experience for me and a big call as well, so I am satisfied with that. However, I am very disappointed about how we have done at the start of the season. Unfortunately, manager Paolo Di Canio has paid the price for that.
"In my opinion the decision was a little bit hasty because he was building the team and in the summer 14 new players, including me, arrived. It needs some time to settle down.
"On the other hand, to win just one point in five games is simply not good, so our director Roberto De Fanti was kind of pressed by our fans to sack Paolo."
"Already in the first game we were outplaying Fulham but conceded the decisive goal from a set-piece situation in the second half," he said.
"At Southampton we were 1-0 up since the fourth minute, all the time in front but in the 89th minute they equalised.
"It stays in the back of your mind a little bit and when you are close to the needed result in the next game, you fail another time.
"There are still plenty of games in the Premier League. We must keep on working hard and believe we will turn it around."