Source: Team_Talk
Pulis delighted by Split draw
Tony Pulis hailed Stoke's "fantastic" Europa League draw after they were paired with Hajduk Split in the third qualifying round.[LNB] The clash marks the return of the FA Cup runners-up to European competition 37 years after they last competed in the UEFA Cup.[LNB]On that occasion they were knocked out in the first round on away goals by Ajax, and the Potters have again drawn one of Europe's bigger names.[LNB]Manager Pulis told the club's official website: "It's a fantastic draw for us and an occasion that every single one of us are looking forward to.[LNB]"Hajduk Split are a hugely renowned football club with great tradition in European competitions, and it's also a lovely city for our supporters to go out and visit.[LNB]"The draw has only just been made but already my phone hasn't stopped ringing - you can sense the excitement building.[LNB]"It would be absolutely fantastic to get a full house at the Britannia Stadium and get the place rocking as we host European football here for the first ever time."[LNB]While Stoke will hope to win a European tie for the first time at the third attempt, Hajduk possess an impressive European pedigree.[LNB]They have reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup three times, most recently in 1994-95, while they were semi-finalists in the UEFA Cup in 1983-84.[LNB]Hajduk are also six-time winners of their domestic league, although for the last three years they have had to settle for the runners-up spot behind Dinamo Zagreb.[LNB]The first leg will take place at the Britannia Stadium on July 28 before Stoke travel to Split's Stadion Poljud on August 4.
