"Situated at the top of a hill, the wind often howled around the Britannia on freezing winter evenings, as a physical Stoke City side gave their opponents little time on the ball, and hurled long throws into the box. With home fans also breaking decibel records for their vociferous support, visiting players didn't just have to be talented they had to be made of stern stuff, too."
"Cristiano Ronaldo did play at the Britannia, helping Manchester United to a 1-0 win in 2008, but Lionel Messi never had the chance to test his skills once and for all an occasionally rumoured move to the Premier League, mostly with Manchester City, never happened. Some say that Messi completed his CV by winning the World Cup we say that with the Argentine now at Inter Miami, his CV will never be complete without proving how he would have got on against the Potters."
During Tony Pulis' reign the Britannia Stadium became an intimidating, ultimate test for visiting players, especially on wet, windy Wednesday evenings. The ground sits atop a hill where cold gusts howl, while Stoke's physical style limited opponents' time on the ball and relied on long throws into the box. Home supporters generated extreme decibel levels that amplified the hostile atmosphere so visitors needed physical and mental resilience. Cristiano Ronaldo did appear there in 2008 for Manchester United, but Lionel Messi never played at the Britannia. With Messi now at Inter Miami, the suggestion remains that his record lacks the Potteries test. Pulis judged Messi a genius able to cope with any conditions.
Read at www.fourfourtwo.com
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