Considering that this match is also at Old Trafford, Robert Huth has said that Stoke city do need to concentrate a lot in order to get something from the match. Manchester United come on the back of a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Liverpool in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

As a result, Sir Alex Ferguson would have prepared his side to face Stoke city in the best possible manner according to Robert Huth. Manchester United suffered the 2-1 defeat in the most difficult circumstances. There has been a lot of talk surrounding the racial abuse suffered by Patrice Evra, who was booed throughout the match by the Liverpool supporters. Liverpool gained the psychological advantage in the battle between the two clubs when they scored in the final few minutes of the match to secure their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

“You know what they’re like when they lose – they come back even stronger. It’s a massive game for us. I don’t think I’ve ever got anything from there so it will be great if we can perform and get a point or even win. We’re looking forward to it but we know it’s going to be a really tough game,” Stoke city defender Robert Huth said in the pre-match press conference ahead of the match with Manchester United at Old Trafford. Manchester United are two points behind leaders Manchester City.

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It is a place that has been a fortress for Stoke city since their promotion from the Championship a few seasons ago. One of the main reasons for it is the difficult conditions both in terms of the crowd and the cold. However, the wind was the reason for Stoke city failing to get all three points against a struggling Aston Villa side according to Robert Huth.

Stoke city came into the match on a good run of form, which has seen them claim to the table near to the Europa League qualification positions. Aston Villa, on the other hand, has struggled a lot since the arrival of new manager Alex McLeish. Hence, Stoke city were the undoubted favourites going into the match against Aston Villa. However, difficult conditions made the match extremely boring and both sides failed to create any clear cut chances. Following the match, Stoke city defender Robert Huth, who has been one of the influential members of the squad, has said that the windy conditions were responsible for their failure to get three points against Aston Villa.

“I don’t know if the fans could pick it up from where they were, but it was ridiculously windy out there and that put everybody on the back foot. They had to defend another 25 yards deeper and we were almost up on the halfway line. You cannot judge the ball properly in the air when it’s like that and you could see the Villa players were unsure,” said Huth. He has also said that achieving 28 points by New Year would be a dream for the club.

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It was once again as a disappointing result for David Moyes, who has failed to make Everton competitive once again. However, it is extremely tough to criticised David Moyes given that he has been unable to spend any money at all. Still, this has been one of the greatest strengths for David Moyes over the years, but it seems to have deserted him this season. One of the main reasons for Stoke getting the crucial victory according to their manager Tony Pulis of the fact that he made nine changes from the side that met Dynamo Kyiv in the Europa League.

“It has been a great week for the football club. We have shown a lot of character and this was a real battling performance against an Everton team that is formidable at home. We’ve had a dip in form as most Premier League clubs do but to get six points and qualify for Europe is very pleasing,” the Stoke manager said. It remains to be seen if Stoke can maintain the same kind of performance in the upcoming Christmas fixtures as well.

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Defender Huth has been fundamental to Stoke’s campaign this season and the Potters boss is keen to reward him for his exertions. Stoke City are renowned for “taking no prisoners” and Huth is at the forefront of this new approach – his tenacious, never-say-die attitude was a huge reason behind The Britannia stadium becoming the fortress that it was last season.  Stoke had a formidable home record at the stadium.

Huth still has two years to run on his existing deal but has supposedly been drawing interest from the Bundesliga, which may prompt Stoke to hand him an improved deal. Without this improved contract there is constant speculation that Huth himself would favour a move away from the Britannia, and back to his homeland. This season Huth has been finding himself at an unfamiliar position of right back, and it’s speculated that unless he is moved to his favoured position in the centre his patience might wear thin and he will opt for a move to his native Germany.

Should Huth leave the Britannia, Stoke would be left hopelessly bare at the back with just two remaining centre backs in Woodgate and Upson, one of whom faces a constant struggle with fitness.  Should Huth decide his future lies elsewhere, Pulis would have to face the proposition of no first class centre back cover, and without this Stoke could be staring down the barrel of a relegation fight.

Pulis said: “We always look after the players who have done well for us and we want to keep Robert and Glenn here for a long time.  Everybody has to feel a part of what we’re trying to achieve.”

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