31 May 2011 08:00:00
Gareth Bale, Tottenham Hotspur
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EXCLUSIVE
By James Daly
Tottenham star Gareth Bale has admitted that missing out on the chance to play Champions League football again next season is a “massive blow”.
Despite reaching the quarter-finals in their first ever season in the competition, Spurs failed to finish in the top four, meaning they will have to make do with the Europa League, and the Welsh winger conceded that was a disappointment.
“It’s a massive blow,” he told Goal.com. “We have enjoyed the last season in the Champions League; playing at the big stadiums against the big teams and it’s going to be disappointing not to be in it again but in a way that will give us motivation for next season to try and qualify again.”
There were some magical nights along with way including a 3-1 win over holders Inter at a packed White Hart Lane, but the dream ended with a 5-0 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid.
“We had a great run in the Champions League and obviously it’s not nice to get knocked out but I don’t think we expected to get to the final,” Bale added. “I think everybody enjoyed the run; it would have been nice to get further but it was one of those things – we got knocked out by the better team on the night.”
And while the Welshman has shone during an entertaining season – including an impressive hat-trick in San Siro – he has also suffered with injuries, brought about by an increased amount of attention, he believes.
“It’s disappointing but it’s one of those things that I can’t control, if people hit me hard, I’m not made of steel,” he said. “I’m not going to stand firm. It’s just one of those unlucky things; I’ve been clattered a few times and they result in injuries. It’s not great but it is part of the game. You get big kicks, you get small ones and you just have to get on with it.”
His season was curtailed three games early by a late lunge from Blackpool’s Charlie Adam, and Bale hinted there was still a bit of lingering resent towards the Scot.
“In the last year I’ve received a lot more close treatment than before and harder tackles, in a way you kind of see them coming,” he added. “Obviously I didn’t see that one from Charlie Adam coming, it was from the side. It’s not nice for yourself but that’s the way the game goes.”
Three and in | Bale grabbed an impressive hat-trick at San Siro
But despite the injuries, Bale still managed to pick up the PFA Player of the Year award, an indication of how good his form was when he was on the pitch, and he wants to win the gong again.
He added: “I’d like to try and win it again. I think I’ve still got a lot of improving to do, personally I think I can do a lot better. And I’ve still got a lot to learn. I’m still only 21 so plenty of time to do that.”
But he might find competition for the award from inside his own camp as Dutchman Rafael van der Vaart pushed Bale all the way this year with some impressive performances of his own, and the Welshman had nothing but praise for the former Real Madrid man, dubbing him the signing of the season.
“You’ve got a world class player who’s played in World Cups and has done pretty much everything in the game,” he said. “He’s played at Real Madrid, the biggest club in the world, and he’s been there and done it, and he’s brought some extra special class to our team.
“He’s been a great signing for us, especially for the price he came in for, he’s been probably the best signing of the season. He’s brought another dimension to the team; something that has really helped us this season.”
Gareth Bale is a Sony 3D World ambassador and was speaking from the Sony Stadium – part of the Uefa Champions Festival.