Stoke City: Fergie's Welsh wizard the best of the lot, says Pulis

by Martin Spinks

FORGET Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov, Ferdinand or Tevez ... Ryan Giggs is the Manchester United player Tony Pulis admires above all others.

The City boss believes the Welsh wizard's enduring career at Old Trafford testifies to the skill and character in which Sir Alex Ferguson has invested so heavily for so long.

"He's been there almost from the beginning for Sir Alex," said Pulis, "and he's survived everybody. He's the one who really stands out for me. He's an absolute legend.

"Sir Alex has got rid of a hell of a lot of good players over the years, but he's never moved Ryan on. That tells you a lot about what he thinks of him.

"I just think he's a great player – and obviously he's a Welshman!"

Pulis – a United fan as a boy – also regards Fergie as the daddy of modern-day managers and wasted no time seeking his opinion ahead of his first few steps into Premier League management over the summer.

"Sir Alex's record obviously speaks for itself, but I don't think he will truly get the credit he deserves until he leaves that club.

"I have spoken to Sir Alex a few times. He's always down to earth and always returns your call, which is a measure of the man.

"His advice to me was simply to get good players in. He said you can work as hard as you want, but it's all about good players."

But the advice from other managers was not quite so accurate, it seems, as Stoke now seek to add to the four points they have already pilfered from the top-four this season following victory over Arsenal and a draw at Liverpool.

"I spoke to a lot of people before the start of the season who said you can forget about the top four, but I'm pleased with how we've done. Even against Chelsea, it was only the second goal that killed us. So you never know.

"There's more teams taking points off the top four than ever before, so there is a bigger spread of points. It's fantastic because the more clubs are closer together, the better for us, Hull and West Brom because it makes others nervous."

Pulis admits United away is a huge fixture, even in Premier League terms, but he will be most thrilled by the sight of chairman Peter Coates lapping up the occasion in the directors' box.

"At the beginning of the season, you look at games you want to be involved in," he said, "and Manchester United at Old Trafford is something special. They are the best team in Europe and most probably the best team in the world.

"I know a lot of people in England don't like them because they have been so successful, but you have to take your hat off to them.

"They have great players everywhere, keep the ball so well and have great pace. But if you talk about them too much you'll frighten everybody to death.

"You've just got to give it your best shot and the beauty of this club is that we've got good characters.

"These are the games he (Coates) should enjoy and savour. When I came back two years ago, I don't think people ever thought we would be doing this.

"I will take pride in seeing Peter in the directors' box watching his team playing at Old Trafford.

"I will enjoy it until the whistle goes, then you are back in that zone and wanting your team to do well."