Stoke chairman Peter Coates believes the tactical nous of boss Tony is not readily appreciated in the Premier League. The Potters have kept seven clean sheets in 15 league games this season - the most in the top flight and have conceded just 12 goals, a tally bettered only by Manchester City.
"His record speaks for itself," Coates said in the Stoke Sentinel.
"He is very good at organising defensive play and that is a great credit to him. It is a talent, like everything else in the game.
"I think it's one of the features of modern-day reporting that not much credit is paid to defences.
"They just want to talk about goals, but defending is an art as well.
"I know he (Pulis) cut his teeth on Italian football during his early interest in coaching.
"The so-called Catenaccio defensive system interested him and the Italians haven't done too badly, have they, with their four World Cups?"
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