‘I was surprised to see a challenge like that in a friendly,’ said Bale. ‘We are over here to build up our fitness and get a good workout. But what he did was over the top. Some people are like that and it’s just wrong.
‘There are pictures on the internet of what he did before when he snapped all my ankle ligaments. I was out for three months that time and one player told me he went out to do the same thing to me again. From what I’ve seen of him on pitch, I think he’s a bit of a coward.
‘I haven’t had an apology from him or anything like that,’ said Bale. ‘But I don’t really want one from him, to be honest. That’s what kind of person he is like. He’s done it before. I’m not going to accept his apology.’
‘I haven’t ever done anything to him,’ Bale continued. ‘All I want to do is play my game and play it in the right way. He’s obviously come for me twice now – and he’s got me twice.’
I suppose It’s flattering (in a way) when players (pay that much attention and) try to take you out in a game but, when it threatens your career, it becomes more serious than that,’ said Bale, who required lengthy treatment and often told his team-mates not to pass him as he was in such pain.
‘I would have understood had it been a slightly mis-timed tackle, even though it was just a friendly. But the ball was 10 yards past him and was nowhere near him when he came through my ankle. ‘My ankle is very, very sore. We’ll have to wait and see how it goes.
‘It’s unsportsmanlike and I don’t think any player should be like that. He didn’t say anything to me afterwards. I’ve had no apology. When someone makes a very bad tackle on you in a game you expect him to come up and apologise.’
His obvious disgust was reflected in an appraisal from Kyle Walker, who seemed to back up Bale’s claim that the challenge was calculated.
‘It was a bit poor from (Adam),’ said the England right-back. ‘He did him once before at White Hart Lane. It just keeps coming up that he doesn’t really like him. Gareth is a very good player. He needs protection. Players shouldn’t hate him. They should appreciate playing against a player like him.
‘They can actually learn from him rather kick him. It’s simple. He (Adam) is jealous, as Gareth is such a good player. I was off the pitch at the time so I don’t know what the lads said to him at the time. From what we have seen, and from looking at the replays, it is a poor tackle.
