Paolo: No Big Deal

Paolo Di Canio says he cannot understand why so much is being said about his contract situation - and says Tomas Repka is welcome round for dinner any time!

Paolo is more concerned with helping West Ham up the table than thinking about his personal predicament and, when initially asked about his contractual status, he initially says:

"It is not the time to talk about that; my agent is speaking, working for me."

But, aware that there may be misunderstandings in the media, with one Sunday newspaper claiming a decision has been made when no such indication has been given by the club, he goes on to clarify:

"My agent said something that is normal in football for everyone but when something happens to me it became a big deal, a big, big story.

"But it is normal; he hasn't done anything different from another player's agent, whether it be for John Moncur, or Joe Cole, or Michael Carrick.

"Agents do their job for the players but of course I am next to him to try to know something.

"It is normal though and it is not only Paolo Di Canio asking."

Paolo's contract is set to expire this summer, and he adds:

"Every player can go to a club and ask what they want to do with them, even if they still have three years left.

"I don't understand why it is a big problem me finding out, as the skipper with seven months left; I am not a player on trial and either I will be kept or, if not, I won't.

"If I am not required it is a case of knowing and if that is going to happen I will still give 100% as a professional - because everyone knows I am professional and I will keep fighting for this team, but I will know what I have to do for the future.

"I don't want to leave this club even at the end of the season with relegation - I want to leave with good memories in the Premiership because the supporters deserve it."

Paolo has also been in the news for his argument with Tomas Repka at Chesterfield on Tuesday night and again, he has been surprised how much comment it has attracted.

"We came out together and were speaking about the game as friends," he says, "and it is normal when you have passion about the game to argue.

"There is no problem and I will cook him some nice Italian pasta!

"I prefer players like him than a player who puts his head down and says 'yes' every time or 'sorry' - it is easy to say after one or two mistakes, but now is not the time to say sorry."

He insists, however, that adverse comment will ot affect him, and he says:

"It is easy for journalists to make a big problem with us now because we are at the bottom, but for me it doesn't change my life whether they write bad or good things.

"I am 34 years old and I have lived 31 or 32 years without those people who write stupidities; do I have a problem with them? Do they make me sad? No.

"Maybe some other players can be worried when people write rubbish about them - but for me it is not a problem.

"If we get out of this situation it will be much better because you play in a comfortable way, with less pressure.

"We are a good group and the manager has a chance to get us out of this with a great team; but we have to do it as soon as we can.

"We can't wait until January or February or it will be more and more tough; we have to get something at Sunderland - and take it from there."

Meanwhile, Joe Cole is back in the England U21 squad for the first time in 14 months and will face Slovakia and Macedonia.

Michael Carrick and Jermain Defoe are also in the U21s, while David James and Trevor Sinclair are in the senior squad.

Congratulations, as ever, to all.