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Fuller has no fear
Stoke striker Ricardo Fuller talks Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo and Usain Bolt in an interview with TEAMtalk's Insider Mark Holmes.
Fuller: Believes Stoke can shock champions
Stoke currently sit in a comfortable 12th place in the Premier League but Tony Pulis' side face their toughest challenge of the season so far when they travel to Old Trafford to take on the domestic and European champions on Saturday.
The Potters have taken four points from their other three games against the 'big four' and Fuller sees no reason why his side cannot improve on that record against United.
The Jamaican international is full of respect for Sir Alex Ferguson and his players but says Stoke go into the game 'brimming with confidence' and hopeful of causing an upset.
"I respect every single player in their team," said Fuller. "They have one of the best coaches the world has ever seen so every single player deserves to be playing there; they've proved that because they're champions of Europe.
"But we can definitely go there and win. If you don't think that then why play football and why play for Stoke City? We're not losers here. We work hard for the team to get the job done and hopefully we can do that on Saturday.
"Nobody expected us to do well against Arsenal or Liverpool but we had some positive results against them and hopefully we can do the same against Manchester United.
"The confidence is brimming. We haven't lost in four games so we'll go up there and give it our best and hopefully our best will be good enough."
Stoke's players could be forgiven for getting over-excited ahead of their trip to face the champions but, while Fuller admits it is an honour to play at Old Trafford, he insists it is just like any other game.
"Old Trafford is special because of the history. History is everything in football and to step on the same pitch as those great players from the past and now is great.
"But the vibe in the squad is normal. It doesn't matter if you're playing Manchester United, Hull City or West Brom because three points is all that matters."
Cristiano Ronaldo will arguably be the biggest star on show on Saturday and Fuller admits the Portuguese winger is a player he enjoys watching. However, Fuller reckons the United star has got a long way to go before he can be ranked alongside "the best player in the world ever," Diego Maradona.
"I like skillful players," said Fuller, "and Ronaldo is the best player in the world at the moment. He's got magical feet and scores magical goals and that's the way I like to see football played.
"But the best player in the world ever is Diego Maradona because he had unbelievable skill. He's the boss and Ronaldo cannot be compared to Maradona.
"He's got the potential to be ranked up there but he's a long way off at the moment. You can never forget Diego Maradona, he is history."
Meanwhile Fuller is hoping to get his good friend and dancing partner Usain Bolt over to England on Boxing Day to take in Stoke's return clash against United.
Fuller shared the same sprint coach as the Olympic superstar at High School in Jamaica and the pair have remained friends ever since. They met up last month when Fuller represented his country in two World Cup qualifiers and the Potters striker has already asked Bolt to make an appearance at the Britannia Stadium.
"I talked to Usain when I went back to Jamaica for the last World Cup qualifiers," said Fuller. "We went out clubbing again, dancing and drinking as usual, and I told him Stoke City want him to come over.
"He said he would but he's been training recently so hasn't had a chance. But he supports Manchester United so I'm trying to get him over for the Boxing Day fixture.
"I've been calling him but he hasn't been picking up because it's a private number, nobody in Jamaica answers private calls! But I'll talk to him again next week when I go home for the Canada game and make sure he gets over for Boxing Day."
Stoke striker Ricardo Fuller talks Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo and Usain Bolt in an interview with TEAMtalk's Insider Mark Holmes.
Fuller: Believes Stoke can shock championsStoke currently sit in a comfortable 12th place in the Premier League but Tony Pulis' side face their toughest challenge of the season so far when they travel to Old Trafford to take on the domestic and European champions on Saturday.
The Potters have taken four points from their other three games against the 'big four' and Fuller sees no reason why his side cannot improve on that record against United.
The Jamaican international is full of respect for Sir Alex Ferguson and his players but says Stoke go into the game 'brimming with confidence' and hopeful of causing an upset.
"I respect every single player in their team," said Fuller. "They have one of the best coaches the world has ever seen so every single player deserves to be playing there; they've proved that because they're champions of Europe.
"But we can definitely go there and win. If you don't think that then why play football and why play for Stoke City? We're not losers here. We work hard for the team to get the job done and hopefully we can do that on Saturday.
"Nobody expected us to do well against Arsenal or Liverpool but we had some positive results against them and hopefully we can do the same against Manchester United.
"The confidence is brimming. We haven't lost in four games so we'll go up there and give it our best and hopefully our best will be good enough."
Stoke's players could be forgiven for getting over-excited ahead of their trip to face the champions but, while Fuller admits it is an honour to play at Old Trafford, he insists it is just like any other game.
"Old Trafford is special because of the history. History is everything in football and to step on the same pitch as those great players from the past and now is great.
"But the vibe in the squad is normal. It doesn't matter if you're playing Manchester United, Hull City or West Brom because three points is all that matters."
Cristiano Ronaldo will arguably be the biggest star on show on Saturday and Fuller admits the Portuguese winger is a player he enjoys watching. However, Fuller reckons the United star has got a long way to go before he can be ranked alongside "the best player in the world ever," Diego Maradona.
"I like skillful players," said Fuller, "and Ronaldo is the best player in the world at the moment. He's got magical feet and scores magical goals and that's the way I like to see football played.
"But the best player in the world ever is Diego Maradona because he had unbelievable skill. He's the boss and Ronaldo cannot be compared to Maradona.
"He's got the potential to be ranked up there but he's a long way off at the moment. You can never forget Diego Maradona, he is history."
Meanwhile Fuller is hoping to get his good friend and dancing partner Usain Bolt over to England on Boxing Day to take in Stoke's return clash against United.
Fuller shared the same sprint coach as the Olympic superstar at High School in Jamaica and the pair have remained friends ever since. They met up last month when Fuller represented his country in two World Cup qualifiers and the Potters striker has already asked Bolt to make an appearance at the Britannia Stadium.
"I talked to Usain when I went back to Jamaica for the last World Cup qualifiers," said Fuller. "We went out clubbing again, dancing and drinking as usual, and I told him Stoke City want him to come over.
"He said he would but he's been training recently so hasn't had a chance. But he supports Manchester United so I'm trying to get him over for the Boxing Day fixture.
"I've been calling him but he hasn't been picking up because it's a private number, nobody in Jamaica answers private calls! But I'll talk to him again next week when I go home for the Canada game and make sure he gets over for Boxing Day."
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