Stoke City boss Tony Pulis has claimed that financial restrictions have forced the Potters to adopt a certain style of football.

The Premier League outfit have been criticised for their long-ball tactics in recent seasons, but Pulis has insisted that he wants his team to play football.

He told The Sun: "A lot people have an opinion about my style and, yes, I do like to move the ball quickly. My preference is to play with width and have people down the sides with pace.

"I want us to get the ball out to players who can excite the crowd. I want to encourage wingers to run down the pitch and get crosses in and I like to see centre-forwards in the box putting those chances away.

"But it's about who you can afford to bring in. If I had an open chequebook and someone said you can have Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, people of that ilk, fine - they would suit my style brilliantly. But we're Stoke City and we work within a budget we can afford."

Stoke currently sit 15th in the Premier League table.