Andre Villas-Boas has admitted that Tottenham Hotspur must qualify for the Champions League in order to keep Gareth Bale from the clutches of predatory clubs, with Real Madrid preparing an offer for the player in the summer. The Tottenham manager also hopes that a massive price tag could serve as a deterrent for interested parties.
Gareth Bale with Real Madrid palyers at a Champions League game
Bale surrounded by Real Madrid players
Bale is one of the hottest properties in European football and Real Madrid is monitoring his – and Tottenham's – situation closely. The Wales winger, who has scored 13 goals for Tottenham this season, plus four more for his country, is on record as stating his admiration for the Spanish champions.
Villas-Boas, though, believes that Tottenham would be set fair to retain Bale's services if they were to reach the Champions League. Bale got the taste for the competition in 2010-11 and, mindful that his opportunities might be limited at major international tournaments with Wales, he is determined to play regularly in Europe's leading club competition.
"Players who are performing at this level always get the attention," Villas-Boas said. "It doesn't mean that the club doesn't foresee a future with Gareth. It's intimately related to the objectives that we achieve for the season. Hopefully, we can do just that with the Champions League and continue to progress on what we are doing.
"It's difficult for us to have a player of this dimension playing so well, calling the attention of other teams but it's also difficult for other teams, with the economic situation as it is, to buy a player of this dimension. At the moment, we are very, very fortunate to have him.
"I think we can reach our objectives with him at this level and if we reach our objectives, we can hopefully continue to have Gareth in our club. He's a player we rate very, very highly and aren't willing to let go. The Champions League is where most of the clubs want to be, and where most of the players want to play. It's part of our objectives so hopefully achieving it means we can attract better players and continue to hold on to our best players."
Bale's emergence as a more central force mirrors the development of Real's Cristiano Ronaldo and Villas-Boas drew the comparison between the two, while hoping that Bale did not follow his fellow Portuguese to the Bernabeu. "Both of them are extremely technical players, extremely powerful and pacy," Villas-Boas said. "It is funny to see how, in some way, they compare. Gareth started at left-back and moved to a winger position ... now going to a more advanced role. And Ronaldo is also able to play that role up front. Ronaldo is now 28, he has achieved so much and he is an example to what Gareth wants to achieve in his career."
Real Madrid prepares summer bid to sign Gareth Bale
Andre Villas-Boas has admitted that Tottenham Hotspur must qualify for the Champions League in order to keep Gareth Bale from the clutches of predatory clubs, with Real Madrid preparing an offer for the player in the summer. The Tottenham manager also hopes that a massive price tag could serve as a deterrent for interested parties.
Gareth Bale with Real Madrid palyers at a Champions League game
Bale surrounded by Real Madrid players
Bale is one of the hottest properties in European football and Real Madrid is monitoring his – and Tottenham's – situation closely. The Wales winger, who has scored 13 goals for Tottenham this season, plus four more for his country, is on record as stating his admiration for the Spanish champions.
Villas-Boas, though, believes that Tottenham would be set fair to retain Bale's services if they were to reach the Champions League. Bale got the taste for the competition in 2010-11 and, mindful that his opportunities might be limited at major international tournaments with Wales, he is determined to play regularly in Europe's leading club competition.
"Players who are performing at this level always get the attention," Villas-Boas said. "It doesn't mean that the club doesn't foresee a future with Gareth. It's intimately related to the objectives that we achieve for the season. Hopefully, we can do just that with the Champions League and continue to progress on what we are doing.
"It's difficult for us to have a player of this dimension playing so well, calling the attention of other teams but it's also difficult for other teams, with the economic situation as it is, to buy a player of this dimension. At the moment, we are very, very fortunate to have him.
"I think we can reach our objectives with him at this level and if we reach our objectives, we can hopefully continue to have Gareth in our club. He's a player we rate very, very highly and aren't willing to let go. The Champions League is where most of the clubs want to be, and where most of the players want to play. It's part of our objectives so hopefully achieving it means we can attract better players and continue to hold on to our best players."
Bale's emergence as a more central force mirrors the development of Real's Cristiano Ronaldo and Villas-Boas drew the comparison between the two, while hoping that Bale did not follow his fellow Portuguese to the Bernabeu. "Both of them are extremely technical players, extremely powerful and pacy," Villas-Boas said. "It is funny to see how, in some way, they compare. Gareth started at left-back and moved to a winger position ... now going to a more advanced role. And Ronaldo is also able to play that role up front. Ronaldo is now 28, he has achieved so much and he is an example to what Gareth wants to achieve in his career."
Turkey bridge collapses under weight of snow
Cristiano Ronaldo misses a strike partner
Neither cat nor dog, or anything else like it. The Real Madrid played the entire game against Manchester without a decent '9' in the field. Any resemblance between Benzema and Higuain with what was seen in the Bernabeu is purely coincidental. Without the help of a strike partner, Cristiano Ronaldo is guarded by the opposing team, so he cannot find spaces or opportunities, something that affects the Portuguese player and the whole team.
Higuain replaces Benzema in front of Mourinho
Higuain replaces Benzema last Wednesday
As in all big games the last two seasons Benzema started the clash but wandered across the lawn with the body present. His lack of intensity, his indolence in pressure the opponent and his desperate lack of character made him an insignificant player in the white attack, a dead weight that appeared and disappeared as if by magic.
Benzema played 59 minutes, with the next shocking figures; a shot, a play in the rival area, a cross to the opposite area, two steals, six turnovers and an assist. Then came Higuain, who did not improve at all like his predecessor on the grass. It was the first Mourinho's change when the white team cried out for a more midfielder (Modric) to give some air to an exhausted Real Madrid.
'Pipita' Higuain demonstrated again that the European Champions League is not his thing. He moved more than Benzema, but not better. He made some interesting moves to the wings, but never generated danger or concern in the Manchester United defensive line. Higuain played 31 minutes, with these numbers; two shots (one on goal), a play in the rival area, three crosses in the opposite goal area, two losses and no recovery. Cristiano Ronaldo needs more. A little bit more.
Danger: Xabi Alonso has to rest
Xabi Alonso has to stop before the risk of further injury and the worst consequences: a major break. The inflammation he suffers in the pelvis area is important and, at this point in the season, the only treatment is rest, which will require little training. Xabi Alonso talking to Jose Mourinho during a Champions League match Xabi Alonso and Jose Mourinho Mourinho has a problem with the player because the pubis injury he suffers begins to be important. The Spanish Midfielder played with a sharp pain the game against Manchester United, especially when coming in contact with the ball and did it with the inside of the foot, a technical gesture which requires more effort from the muscles in the injured area. If Xabi Alonso could start the match it was because from a few days ago his workouts are softer, due to a good work of physiotherapeutic discharge and possibly with the help of anti-inflammatory used to reduce the intense pain. After the match against Manchester United, Xabi Alonso suffered heavy pains. A kind of pain which does not allow everyday moves like bending over to tie the shoes. Even a simple sneeze becomes a pain.
INSANE! Man ducks under speeding train
Dude holds on for dear life to train tracks while a speeding train rides right above him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)