‘If we ease up at all, we will go and get battered every week’ – Rory Delap refuses to let FA Cup final with Manchester City to distract Stoke

EPL : Rory Delap – Ryan Shawcros – Jonathan Walters, Stoke City v West Bromwich

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Rory Delap has refused to let the upcoming FA Cup final against Manchester City become a distraction to Stoke City’s bid for Premier League survival, and has given a warning to team mates who may become complacent.

The Irish international said: “I don’t think that easing up will happen with the players and staff we’ve got behind us here. If it does, they won’t be playing at Wembley.

“If you ease up and think about things, start thinking about the final, you are not going to be playing in the final.

“The manager has shown in the past that anyone who messes about and doesn’t put the work in will be out of the team and out of the club.

“You should be professional enough no matter what situation you are in, cup final, no cup final, bottom, middle, top of the league. You still want to win games.

“The manager has drilled that into us since he’s been at the club. That’s why we’ve had the success we’ve had.

“If we ease up at all, we will go and get battered every week.”

The end of the season is one of two halves for Stoke City, on one hand they are locked in the closest relegation battle in Premier League history, and on the other, they have a much anticipated trip to Wembley for the club’s first ever FA Cup final on May 14.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis, his players and the fans will be hoping for a double celebration come the end of the season.