TONY PULIS faces a furious backlash from Stoke fans when he takes on Spanish giants Valencia tonight — without NINE first team regulars.
Potters boss Pulis flew into a storm yesterday when he touched down in Valencia WITHOUT skipper Ryan Shawcross, Peter Crouch, Jon Walters, Dean Whitehead, Marc Wilson, Glenn Whelan, Matty Etherington, Matt Upson and Andy Wilkinson.
Stoke will not even fill the bench against the Spanish giants, who hold a 1-0 lead from the first leg, as their 15-man squad includes two keepers and untried 18-year-old Lucas Dawson.
But Pulis defended his controversial selection and claimed it was 'nowhere near' Martin O'Neill's infamous 2009 blunder in the same competition.
O'Neill's relationship with Villa fans never recovered after he packed his team with kids and crashed out of the Europa League to CSKA Moscow.
Pulis insists his 'shadow' team cost £20million, is packed with internationals, and he really has NOTHING to apologise for.
He said: "We picked up a few injuries on Sunday and one or two have looked tired and empty over the past couple of days, especially Walters and Crouch.
"I'm quite happy with what I have brought over. If you look at the squad virtually every player I have brought is an international.
"I think this squad is the right one to bring over because it's fresh and ready to go."
However few Stoke fans who have travelled are likely to agree.
Around 3,500 Potters fans are expected at the Mestalla tonight, having paid an average of £500 for the trip.
And Sue Bryan, a fans' columnist with the local paper, claimed Pulis has misjudged the supporters' mood.
She warned: "If we lose heavily in this game, fans may never be able to forgive him."
Pulis found an unlikely ally in VALENCIA boss Unai Emery, who said: "Maybe he wants quicker players up front."
Originally Posted by McNamara That Ghost...
Valencia vs Stoke is on ESPN.
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