Tottenham attacker Gareth Bale is delighted at Spurs’ position in the Premier League as the season approaches the New Year, but has been quick to remind fans there is still half of the campaign left to play.
Harry Redknapp’s side currently sit third in the table, four points ahead of third-placed Chelsea, following Tuesday’s win over Norwich City, while they are seven behind the Manchester giants at the summit, with a game in hand on all of the top six sides.
Bale capped an impeccable display at Carrow Road with both goals in Spurs 2-0 victory, and whilst the Welshman has already matched his goals tally from last term, the 22-year-old has called on fans not to get carried away just yet, with 21 games of the season still left to play.
Speaking to reporters after the Norwich win, Bale said: “It’s great to be up there, but ultimately we have to keep concentrating, it’s not even halfway yet, there is still a lot of games to go and nothing is won or achieved halfway through the season.
“There is still a long way to go, we’ve just need to keep our focus and concentrate on every single game.
“It is always good to be points ahead, but we know if we do slip up they’ll be there to pounce, so we’re concentrating everyday and we’ll try to do our best in every game.”
Draws for Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool before Tuesday evening’s kick-off allowed Tottenham to take advantage of their rivals slip-ups, with Bale admitting three points against Norwich was a must.
“We spoke about it before the game,” he continued. “A lot of the teams around us have dropped points this weekend, so it was important to get the win and put the pressure on them, above us and below us.
“The most important thing today was to get the three points today to put ourselves in a more solid position.
“We want to keep the run going and play great football, something that we showed again today.
“Hopefully we can keep that going against Swansea.”
In recent weeks, Bale has been afforded considerably more creative freedom by Harry Redknapp, something the Wales international is more than happy about as he believes it can only benefit his game.
“It’s exciting I think,” he said. “The last 12 months I’ve had to switch my game up a bit as teams have started to double-mark me on the wings so I’ve come inside a lot and I’m improving all the time, especially with the free role, it’s allowing me to do that and I’m feeling like I am improving as a player and it is showing on the pitch.
“We’ve been doing it for quite a while. Coming in off the line and getting into spaces.
“It is important that I mix my game up and try to help the team rather than stuck out on the wing and marked out of the game sometimes, so it’s important everyone gets involved and keeps getting on the ball and playing the football we are to get the result like we are now.”
Whilst occasionally playing as a forward for Wales, a central role at Tottenham is a new experience for Bale compared to his usual deployment on the left wing, and the former Southampton man is relishing the challenge.
He went on: “I’ve always played out wide so it’s never been about playing through the middle, but I think since people have been double marking me, triple marking me, it’s something I’ve had to bring into my game and I’m enjoying it so hopefully I can continue to play in the form I am.”
The Welshman came in for more than his fair share of stick from the Norwich fans on Tuesday evening, but allowed his goals on the pitch did the talking.
“That happens every week,” he said. “It’s nothing different, but I kind of shut them up with my goals, so it was good.”
Spurs face a trip to Swansea on Saturday, with a number of key games coming up next month with home clashes against West Brom, Everton and Wolves before a crunch away tie to Manchester City – and Bale is aware teams will be ready to capitalise as soon as Tottenham fall short.
“I think every game is key for us,” he noted. “If we slip up other teams will pounce on it, like we have this week.
“Teams have slipped up so we pounced on it, so ultimately we need to keep concentrating, win as many games as we can, particularly against the bigger team.”
How do you stay up with football when on the move? With http://m.goal.com – your best source for mobile coverage of the beautiful game.