Source: Team_Talk
Diao: Diouf thrives on controversy
The two Senegal internationals, who both arrived in England when Gerard Houllier signed them for Liverpool in 2002, go head to head on Saturday as Stoke travel to Ewood Park in the Premier League.[LNB]Diouf has had a chequered career since then, excelling in fits and starts after leaving Anfield at Bolton, Sunderland and Blackburn, but having also been involved in a string of controversial incidents, including occasions when he has been accused of spitting at opposition players and fans.[LNB]He is often touted as one of the league's most unpopular players, but Diao believes Diouf needs adversity in order to thrive on the pitch.[LNB]"All the people that know him personally know that he is a really smashing lad, but he is one of those - he likes the adversity," Diao said.[LNB]"For him to perform, he needs to maybe get everyone against him. That's why it's better to leave him how he is."[LNB]Like Diouf, Diao struggled to make an impact for Liverpool and was loaned out to three different clubs by Rafael Benitez.[LNB]The last of those was Stoke, but having joined the Potters permanently in 2007, he has not looked back since.[LNB]Diao - once hailed by Houllier as the "new Patrick Vieira" - has finally started to show his worth under Tony Pulis, and the 32-year-old feels he has found a home at the Britannia Stadium.[LNB]"I am from Africa and we like this family kind of atmosphere around us," Diao said.[LNB]"There are a few Africans at the club and always we have felt very welcomed, by the fans and the gaffer. That is very important."[LNB]Diao has provided an effective shield for Stoke's defence this season when fit for selection and he admits he takes as much satisfaction from keeping goals out at one end as he would from scoring them at the other.[LNB]"If I manage things with the defenders and we keep a clean sheet, I think my job is done," Diao said.[LNB]"That is my job in the team - I'm not asked to do anything else, score goals or do crazy tricks.[LNB]"My work is to protect that back four and every time we get a clean sheet from a game, I feel like I have scored a goal.[LNB]"I'm trying to be myself and I have nothing to prove to anyone.[LNB]"All my team mates and all the managers that have had me know what I am all about, so I just try to make sure that if they pick me in the team, I deliver."[LNB]Diao has helped Stoke maintain their good form from last season and the team go into tomorrow's match lying ninth in the table with 19 points from 13 games.[LNB]The Potters' continued progress after finishing 12th in their debut Premier League campaign has started talk of a possible push for Europe, but Diao insists the players are thinking about nothing for the time being other than matching last year's points total.[LNB]"For us the main target at the moment is to reach those 45 points as quick as we can," Diao said.[LNB]"When we get to that stage, maybe we will sit with all the rest of the lads and the manager and think about going for something else."[LNB]Pulis hopes to have Diao available for the trip to Blackburn with the midfielder having played an hour in the 1-0 win against Portsmouth last Sunday after recovering from a groin problem that had kept him out of the previous two league games.[LNB]"I had a little groin problem just before the Wolves game," Diao said.[LNB]"I got unlucky in a shooting session and had to rest for a week, 10 days.[LNB]"Unfortunately for me, we had two games during those 10 days, but last week myself and James Beattie had just one training session and I was happy to play an hour."[LNB][LNB]
