Pulis ready for Valencia showdown

by Setanta Staff , 13 February 2012 Pulis ready for Valencia showdown

Stoke boss Tony Pulis says they will face their toughest European test yet when they take on Valencia on Thursday.


The Potters have impressed in the Europa League this season but Pulis is well aware they are in for a tough double-header against the Spanish outfit as they bid to make the last 16.

Pulis watched Valencia hammer Sporting Gijon 4-0 on Sunday and if that was not enough former Liverpool and Valencia boss Rafa Benitez has also been telling him how good the Spanish side are.

The City boss will again make changes to his starting line up but hopes a packed Britannia Stadium can help spur his side on to victory and set them up nicely for the return leg.

"I spoke to Rafa Benitez about Valencia and he's scared me to death," he told football365. "They're a step up in class from anyone we've faced so far in the Europa League, so Thursday night is going to be a special occasion for everyone at Stoke.

"It's a 28,000 sell-out and we really need our supporters to get behind the team.

"I will move one or two of the squad around as I've done in previous European games and I just hope the players respond to the challenge and do themselves justice."

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Pos
Team P W D L +/- PTS
1.
Man City
38
28
5
5
64
89
2.
Man Utd
38
28
5
5
56
89
3.
Arsenal
38
21
7
10
25
70
4.
Tottenham
38
20
9
9
25
69
5.
Newcastle
38
19
8
11
5
65
6.
Chelsea
38
18
10
10
19
64
7.
Everton
38
15
11
12
10
56
8.
Liverpool
38
14
10
14
7
52
9.
Fulham
38
14
10
14
-3
52
10.
West Brom
38
13
8
17
-7
47
11.
Swansea
38
12
11
15
-7
47
12.
Norwich
38
12
11
15
-14
47
13.
Sunderland
38
11
12
15
-1
45
14.
Stoke
38
11
12
15
-17
45
15.
Wigan
38
11
10
17
-20
43
16.
Aston Villa
38
7
17
14
-16
38
17.
QPR
38
10
7
21
-23
37
18.
Bolton
38
10
6
22
-31
36
19.
Blackburn
38
8
7
23
-30
31
20.
Wolverhampton
38
5
10
23
-43
25
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