Tottenham’s Gareth Bale: I am not as good as people say I am

Champions league : Gareth Bale , Tottenham vs Inter (Getty Images)

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Tottenham winger Gareth Bale believes that he is not as good as some say he is after receiving wide acclaim this season.

The young Welshman joined Spurs in 2007 from Southampton, and had a difficult time in living up to expectations at the north London club.

The 21-year-old, however, has had a breakthrough season and won the PFA Player of the Year award for his positive showings.

But the fleet-footed wide-man insists that he is not as good as the hype.

“I don’t think that I’m as good a player as people say I am,” Bale said, according to The Mirror.

“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 also paid tribute to his team-mates for the part they played in him being able to win the PFA Player of the Year award, and insisted that his achievement would never have been possible without their help.

“It’s the award you want, it’s from your fellow pros and that’s such a unique ­compliment,” he said.

“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.”