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Diao praises Stoke spirit

Image: Diao: Happy at Stoke

Stoke midfielder Salif Diao has praised the atmosphere within the squad at the Britannia Stadium.

Senegal tough-tackler is settled at the Britannia

Stoke midfielder Salif Diao has praised the atmosphere within the squad at the Britannia Stadium. Tony Pulis' side are currently ninth in the Premier League table with 19 points from 13 games and are preparing for a trip to Ewood Park to face Blackburn on Saturday. Diao has played four times so far this season in the league and was part of the side that defeated Portsmouth 1-0 last weekend. The 32-year-old Senegal international, who joined Stoke permanently in 2007, says the mood in the camp is excellent and admits that he is enjoying playing in the team. "I am from Africa and we like this family kind of atmosphere around us," he said. "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. "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. "If I manage things with the defenders and we keep a clean sheet, I think my job is done. "That is my job in the team - I'm not asked to do anything else, score goals or do crazy tricks. "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. "I'm trying to be myself and I have nothing to prove to anyone."

Diouf

Diao will face compatriot and former Liverpool team-mate El-Hadji Diouf at Ewood Park. Despite Diouf's controversial reputation in the game, Diao insists the Rovers attacker is not the pantomime villain he is often portrayed to be. "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," he added. "For him to perform, he needs to maybe get everyone against him. That's why it's better to leave him how he is."

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