Sunderland boss O'Neill: I wish I wasn't such a worrier!

Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill admits he's a born worrier.

O'Neill admits he will never get carried away by success.

He said: "If I could change my life I'd like to change the way I grew up. It's the Irish background thing. Disaster is around the corner. It is, it's lurking, it's incredibly negative. Am I thinking about the bad times ahead? Jesus, no. I've got to remain positive, I'm going to fight this negativity!

"I've had some poor runs in my time. I know how difficult it is for some. I'm not building up for the inevitable. The inevitable is inevitable, but I'm not building up for it. That's probably why I'm a Sunderland fan, absolutely, I couldn't have chosen a more appropriate club.

"I remember when I was a child, the night they got beaten 5-1 at Leeds Road against Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-final, second replay. I was at boarding school and you weren't allowed radios. My mother got me a little crystal set to listen to the last bits of the game.

"There I was listening, it got to the last bits and it said 'It's been a terrible night for Sunderland.' That's great, and I think we took the lead as well. Just then the Dean walked in and lifted my crystal set and I got slaps in the morning."