Craig Gardner brands fitness claims as rubbish

Craig Gardner says there is no problem with the squad and has described claims that the players are not fit as a “load of rubbish”.

Following defeat at Chelsea on Sunday new Black Cats boss Paolo Di Canio said his side were ‘not the fittest team in the world’ and it was something they would be working on throughout the week.

Gardner though insists there is nothing wrong with the side’s fitness and they work as hard as anyone else at any other club in training.

He told the Northern Echo: “We work hard every day, no matter what manager comes in, we’re professional footballers.

“I don’t know where this has come from, that Paolo Di Canio will work us harder, because every club you’re at, there’s only one place you’ll be found out, and that is on the pitch.

“There’s been people talking and chatting about this, but it’s a load of rubbish basically. The gaffer’s come in and it’s the same.

“Every football club has to work hard. We were working hard, we have to if we want to stay in the Premier League. But the gaffer’s been brilliant with all of us since he arrived.”

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