Pulis glad to be able to take on Valencia
Tony Pulis is looking forward to one of the biggest nights in Stoke City’s history when Valencia visit the Britannia Stadium tonight.
The Spanish giants, who sit third in La Liga, arrived in the Potteries yesterday ahead of the first leg of their UEFA Europa League last-32 clash.
Stoke have exceeded expectations so far in their first European campaign for 37 years, losing only once in ten games and qualifying from a group containing Besiktas, Dynamo Kyiv and Maccabi Tel Aviv. But Pulis knows Valencia will present another step up, and has called on the club’s supporters to play their part as the Potters look to preserve their unbeaten home record in the competition.
He said: “I’m excited. It’s one of the great games this football club has had in its history.
“Next year it’s 150 years this club has been going and we haven’t had too many occasions when you can say you’re playing a top, top European team at the Britannia.
“And it’s not just the game here, there’s a lot of supporters who can’t wait to go out for the game in Spain as well and experience the atmosphere out there, which is supposed to be absolutely fantastic. It’s just fantastic for the city.
“The games we’ve had at our place on the Thursday nights, the atmosphere has been fantastic, and, what we’ve done so far, you can double that this week, because they will know we’re up against it, and they’re at their best when we’re the underdogs.”
Stoke will also be hoping to turn their form around after a run of four Barclays Premier League defeats in a row, which has seen them drop from the fringes of the European battle to 13th. Pulis is convinced his side can cause an upset tonight, and he said: “It’s a big game, but it’s a game and the end result is the most important thing.
“We have to go out there and not be overawed by anything, just play the way we can play and, if we can get our forwards playing well, then I think we’ll cause them a lot of problems, I really do.”
Pulis has been impressed with the job done at Valencia by his opposite number, Unai Emery. The City boss, who watched the Spaniards beat Sporting Gijon 4-0 last Sunday, said: “They’re a fantastic team. “He’s a young coach and he’s got the team very well organised both off the ball and in possession, and they impress you. They’ve got some terrific players and it’ll be a great game for our fans.”