Gus Poyet took charge at Sunderland

 
SUNDERLAND: Gus Poyet took charge at Sunderland on Tuesday on a mission to restore unity to the struggling English Premier League club following the divisiveness of Paolo Di Canio’s brief, stormy reign.

Poyet’s immediate challenge is to produce Sunderland’s first victory in the league, with the northeast club bottom with just one point from seven matches.


“Trust me, believe, connect with the team,” Poyet said after signing a two-year contract. “We are all together in this. It’s important now we stick together.” As with Di Canio’s appointment in March, American owner Ellis Short has hired a man with no previous topflight managerial experience.

“It’s a big, big challenge,” Poyet said. “I thought that I would have an opportunity in the Premier League and now I’ve got it I need to make sure I prove that they picked the right man to get us from the situation that we are.” The former Uruguay midfielder began his mission with a managerial approach far removed from that of the maverick Di Canio, who left amid claims disputed by the Italian of player unrest.

“The idea is to address the problems quickly, make sure that we train and convince the players to get better, and then slowly that will make us pick up points,” Poyet said. “The sooner we win the better, but the idea is to make sure that we understand the way we would like them to play football. We think it’s the best way.

“So there has to be a very good communication with the players understanding, trust. We need to commit as a group. We need to make sure that we are all together, the players, the staff, the fans. Make sure that we are very strong to make sure we can win football games.” The 45-year-old has quickly found work again despite being fired by second-tier club Brighton in June for gross misconduct.

He becomes Sunderland’s sixth permanent manager in less than five years, with Di Canio lasting only six months in the job before being fired in September.

“We analysed a wide range of candidates and believe that Gus’ track record, experience, commitment and passion make him the right man to take us forward,” said Short, the American businessman who bought Sunderland in 2008.