Left-back Aaron Cresswell is looking forward to his mouth-watering battle with Stoke City's in-form right winger Xherdan Shaqiri
Fewer full-backs in the Barclays Premier League have a tougher assignment this weekend than Aaron Cresswell.
The Hammer of the Year will need to draw on all his ability, confidence and belief to stifle Stoke City’s outstanding winger Xherdan Shaqiri.
The Switzerland international was considered one of European football’s top talents as a youngster at FC Basel, excelling in the UEFA Champions League before joining Bayern Munich and Internazionale.
After difficult spells in Germany and Italy, Shaqiri joined Stoke in the summer, and has rediscovered his very best form in recent weeks, capped with a show-stopping performance in last weekend’s victory over Manchester City.
Playing on the right flank, the 24-year-old has two good feet, a low centre of gravity and lethal ball-striking ability – all strengths Cresswell will try to nullify this afternoon.
“I’ve seen him play internationally and when he’s played for Inter Milan and Bayern Munich, so we’re fully aware of how good he is and how good he can be,” the No3 told the Official Programme. “It’s up to us as a team, and as individuals, to stop them getting the ball to their attacking players and to get the three points for ourselves.
“I think it is credit to Mark Hughes that Stoke have changed the way they play. They got branded as a physical team and a long ball team, but they have totally changed the philosophy of the club over the last couple of years and they’ve been excellent.
“We know it’s going to be a tough game again, but every game in the Premier League is tough and it’s another one we’re looking forward to.”
The Hammer of the Year will need to draw on all his ability, confidence and belief to stifle Stoke City’s outstanding winger Xherdan Shaqiri.
The Switzerland international was considered one of European football’s top talents as a youngster at FC Basel, excelling in the UEFA Champions League before joining Bayern Munich and Internazionale.
After difficult spells in Germany and Italy, Shaqiri joined Stoke in the summer, and has rediscovered his very best form in recent weeks, capped with a show-stopping performance in last weekend’s victory over Manchester City.
Playing on the right flank, the 24-year-old has two good feet, a low centre of gravity and lethal ball-striking ability – all strengths Cresswell will try to nullify this afternoon.
“I’ve seen him play internationally and when he’s played for Inter Milan and Bayern Munich, so we’re fully aware of how good he is and how good he can be,” the No3 told the Official Programme. “It’s up to us as a team, and as individuals, to stop them getting the ball to their attacking players and to get the three points for ourselves.
“I think it is credit to Mark Hughes that Stoke have changed the way they play. They got branded as a physical team and a long ball team, but they have totally changed the philosophy of the club over the last couple of years and they’ve been excellent.
“We know it’s going to be a tough game again, but every game in the Premier League is tough and it’s another one we’re looking forward to.”
Alternatively, the Digital Official Programme will be available to download to your iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, and Android devices alongside PC and Mac from 9am on matchday.
The Digital Programme comes with all the content you would expect from the print edition, as well as exclusive video footage, meaning fans from all over the globe can get ahead of the action and read their Programme and enjoy exclusive video interviews and highlights.
If you live overseas, that means you can download your Digital Programme before kick-off, with the game being televised live in a large number of countries across the world. The print edition will be available to buy in and around the Boleyn Ground on matchday as usual, packed with all the usual exclusive content.
The Digital Programme offers supporters a number of great additional features, including:
The Digital Programme is available on Apple iPad and iPhone, as well as Android and via the Pocketmags app on kindle fire and Blackberry Playbook.
The Digital Programme comes with all the content you would expect from the print edition, as well as exclusive video footage, meaning fans from all over the globe can get ahead of the action and read their Programme and enjoy exclusive video interviews and highlights.
If you live overseas, that means you can download your Digital Programme before kick-off, with the game being televised live in a large number of countries across the world. The print edition will be available to buy in and around the Boleyn Ground on matchday as usual, packed with all the usual exclusive content.
The Digital Programme offers supporters a number of great additional features, including:
- Easy to use page-turning technology
- Simple content navigation and skip-to-page features
- Interactive content including exclusive video footage
- Our programmes remember the last page you were viewing
- Fans can order back-dated issues
- Apple users will have all their issues hosted in one place on Newsstand for easy access
The Digital Programme is available on Apple iPad and iPhone, as well as Android and via the Pocketmags app on kindle fire and Blackberry Playbook.