Bale: I'm NOT the world's greatest player
Published 23:01 03/05/11 By Darren Lewis
Gareth Bale has become a wanted man throughout Europe after his mega-displays this season for Tottenham.
Even an improved four-and-a-half-year deal, signed in March, has failed to dampen the interest shown in him by clubs such as Chelsea, Inter Milan and Barcelona.
The Welsh winger has been a sensation this term with his performances earning the Player of the Year award from his fellow professionals, but Bale insists he is staying at White Hart Lane.
And far from allowing himself to be carried away by the hype around him, the 21-year-old said: “I have not always been the most confident of people, particularly as a schoolboy, so I needed my parents to keep telling me to believe that I was better than I actually thought I was myself.
“I’m still the same now. I don’t think that I’m as good a player as people say I am.
“That’s what keeps me working hard - because I want to be the player that others say I am.
“When I first joined Spurs, it was hard for me when I was not playing, although I actually felt confident that I would show what I could do if I could get into the side. It was the same when I had a bad injury and couldn’t get back in.
“Then suddenly it took off. I went from strength to strength, because now I was playing regularly and not just training.
“I wasn’t even in the squad for a good while, but it all went right when I had a run in the side. My confidence grew with each and every one of those games and there’s no doubt that you learn more from playing than training, and you get better with every experience."
Bale feels that Tottenham's recent successes are down to teamwork.
“We have a good mix of abilities, individual parts working together, complementing each other," he said.
“It has to be about the team and that’s how it is for us at Spurs. We are a unit and that’s where our strength lies.
“Our fans are also very important to me – and they’ve always been great, chanting my name when I go out on the pitch. It really makes the difference having them with us.
“I don’t think anyone expected us to get out of our Champions League group, let alone win it and then knock out AC Milan and reach the last eight.
“The fans have been happy and that’s important. We have achieved a lot and they have been there with us, travelling all across Europe and watching us play in such great stadiums. All in all, it’s been a great experience for everyone.
“And in the end we were beaten by Real Madrid - probably the biggest team in the world. There’s no shame in that. We’ve come a long way in a short time.”
Referring to his PFA award, Bale said: “It’s the award you want, it’s from your fellow pros and that’s such a unique compliment.
“You see all the names on the list and it’s such an honour to be even mentioned in the same breath as them.
“But you have to acknowledge your team-mates and I did that at the presentation - you don’t win awards like this without them.
“If you don’t play with good players then you don’t really stand out, so I see this as a tribute to everyone, really. Naturally, I’m very happy to be the winner but it wouldn’t have happened without all the rest of the lads and I’m grateful to them for that.”
Signed in May 2007 from Southampton, Bale’s reputation went through the roof in this campaign after a couple of incredible Champions League displays against Inter Milan.
In the home match during the group stages, Bale was so impressive he destroyed Brazilian superstar Maicon, rated not only the best right-back but also the best defender in last season’s tournament.
Bale declared his intention to stay, even if Harry Redknapp’s men miss out on not only Champions League qualification but also the Europa League.
“We have a great young team and a great manager. I believe we’re going places," he said.
“We’re a club on the up with a new training ground and plans for a new stadium. We’ve got a bright future and I want to be part of it.”
Bale has come a long way since holding the unwanted record for featuring in 24 Premier League matches in 2009 without being on the winning side.
But the Wales international reckons he could yet be eclipsed in the race for the Player of the Year gong, handed out by sponsors Barclays.
He said: “I’d say all the same names that were up for the PFA award will again be in contention. Samir Nasri has been great at Arsenal, but Carlos Tevez has taken Manchester City to a new level – there are so many names.”
* Read the full interview in Hotspur, the official magazine of Tottenham Hotspur, available to buy now. To subscribe, please call 0844 499 5007.
