Alfred N'Diaye says Sunderland's English players simply don't get where Paolo di Canio is coming from.
Di Canio is at loggerheads with some of his stars who complained to the PFA after he dished out a string of fines for failure to accept his rules.
But midfielder N'Diaye, 23, insisted: "I'm in England, but I have an Italian manager who is very similar to what I'm used to from playing in France.
"His mentality is no different for me. It's more different for English players but for me it's normal.
"When I played in France, I'm used to it. For me, football's like that, and it's OK."