Stoke City manager Tony Pulis expects no easy games in Premier League run-in

Tony Pulis, Stoke City v Fulham (Getty Images)

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Stoke City manager Tony Pulis doesn’t believe there is an easy game in their run-in to the end of the season.

There had been suggestions that games against Chelsea and Tottenham may have been easier towards the end of the season due to Champions League commitments, however the Welshman believes his side will not be in for an easy test.

“Their ultimate goal must be to re-qualify for the Champions League, and the best way to do that is to finish in the top four,” Pulis told The Sentinel.

“Just look at Chelsea against Man City the other day. They had Salomon Kalou and Fernando Torres on the pitch and the little matter of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka on the bench.

“And if Tottenham go with Rafael van der Vaart and Jermain Defoe, that leaves Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko in reserve.”

Stoke are pushing for a top-10 position in the Premier League and also have an FA Cup semi-final to play against Bolton and Pulis is wary of the strain on his player’s as the season draws to a close.

“Most haven’t experienced this kind of intensity at this level before,” he added.

“They are in the top half of the Premier League and have an FA Cup semi-final coming up.

“It can be physically draining, but it will definitely be mentally draining.”