Filed under: Stoke City, Europa League (UEFA), FA Cup, Premier League, Football
Not since October 1974 - the month of the 'Rumble in the Jungle' - have Stoke found themselves in European competition. But all that is about to change after Saturday's FA Cup final opponents Manchester City achieved the next phase of their 'project' by reaching the Champions League.Around the same time Muhammad Ali downed George Foreman to regain the Heavyweight title stripped from him seven years earlier, the Potters were dealt a knockout blow of their own at the hands of Dutch giants Ajax in the Uefa Cup, losing on away goals.
Now they can look forward to continental competition once again after Roberto Mancini's side confirmed their place in Europe's elite competition by beating Tottenham on Tuesday night - leaving the vacancy on offer from this weekend's Wembley final for Tony Pulis' team to fill.
Win on Saturday and Stoke will enter in the fourth qualifying round, which is the last before the Group Stages, but should they lose they will have to enter a round earlier, meaning their season will start as early as July 28.
It also puts an end to any conspiracy theories ahead of Tuesday's Premier League clash between the pair, which Stoke could have benefitted from losing had they been defeated on Saturday and Manchester City still failed to secure their Champions League place.
Pulis, who was in the stands at Eastlands, said: "It's dreamland. Who would have thought it? But the important thing now is that everybody keeps their feet on the ground and realises what a ride we are on."
"As quickly as you rise, if you take your eye off the ball, you can just as quickly fall. My message to everybody is enjoy it and get the most out of it, but don't forget where we've come from and what it has taken to get where we are...a great togetherness, a terrific spirit and loads of hard work."
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Javier Mascherano Javier Zanetti Jeff Overton Jim Furyk Joe Cole
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