Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio has insisted that it is not possible for his squad to be afraid of him.
The 45-year-old revealed last season that he had fined seven members of his squad for "unacceptable behaviour".
"The dressing room is like a family. There are some quarrels, but when children lose the way from the road I put them back," he told La Gazzetta Dello Sport.
"Players cannot be afraid of the coach, it's not possible. I am not one that kills people, I only train them."
Di Canio replaced Martin O'Neill as manager of the North East side in March.
