Paul Lambert says avoiding relegation with Stoke City would rival his Champions League win
Lambert won Europe's elite competition with Borussia Dortmund in 1997
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Your support makes all the difference.Paul Lambert believes keeping Stoke City in the top-flight would be an achievement on a par with winning the Champions League.
Stoke currently sit three points from safety having also played a game more than relegation rivals Swansea in 17th.
And Lambert, who famously won Europe’s elite competition with Borussia Dortmund in 1997, told reporters at his pre-match press conference that keeping the Potters in the Premier League would be up there as one of his greatest achievements.
“I’ve been really fortunate to win the Champions League as a player and win league titles,” he said. “But keeping this club up would be up there in terms of my achievements.
“The most important thing is the club stays up. For me it would be massive for us to stay up, but it would be bigger for the club.”
Lambert acknowledged that his side simply ‘have to win’ in their relegation crunch match with Crystal Palace this weekend.
Stoke have drawn their last three games, including last weekend’s vital 0-0 draw with Liverpool.
The former Celtic midfielder praised his Palace counterpart Roy Hodgson but noted that he expected a stern test despite their opponents’ relative safety.
And with just two games left to play, the former Norwich City boss recognises that Stoke cannot afford to slip up.
“I expect a really tough game on Saturday.
“Roy Hodgson has done a great job at Crystal Palace. They are practically safe so whether that’s a good or a bad thing for us I don’t know.
“We just need to make sure we are on the front foot to win the game.”
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