Lorik Cana: It's good to talk - to referees

Apr 6 2010 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

SUNDERLAND skipper Lorik Cana reckons he can end his yellow peril next season by simply talking more to referees.

Cana suffered a stop-start March after picking up an automatic two-match ban for receiving ten yellow cards, and missed out on Saturday’s game against Spurs completely after suffering a groin strain in the warm-up.

It has been a frustrating way to bring an otherwise satisfying debut campaign in England towards a close, and Cana admits he will have to address the disciplinary issues to avoid missing vital games next season.

Cana’s battling style means he will inevitably pick up more cautions than most, but he has picked up a few needless bookings that have betrayed his lack of Premier League savvy.

The experience of one season in England should help, as should Cana’s desire to cultivate better relationships with referees.

“It is a part of my game – sometimes I am booked. But I have tried to change some small things and I think it will get better next season,” the Albania international said.

“When you know the referees a bit you can talk to them and you can change little things.

“I think I have a better relationship with referees now and can take that forward. But if a player plays 33 or 34 games in a season he will pick up bookings.”

Cana says he has enjoyed his first experience of English football, but admits that things have not always been easy – especially during Sunderland’s winter of discontent when they went 14 games without victory.

The midfielder had enough knowledge of the club to recognise that they wouldn’t have it all their own way this season, even if their winter run was much worse than he anticipated.