‘Bale must cope with ‘ over-zealous defending’

HARRY Redknapp has warned Gareth Bale he must learn to live with the brutal treatment he receives from opponents.

The Tottenham winger has been the victim of some roughhouse tactics from defenders who are prepared to do anything in their power to stop the brilliant 22-year-old.

Bale was targeted for more unsavoury treatment from West Bromwich during Spurs’ 1-0 win on Tuesday, with one late Simon Cox challenge particularly nasty.

But Redknapp says, like with the world’s other top stars, the Wales international must cope with over-zealous defending.

He said: “The last tackle (from Simon Cox) at the end of the West Brom game, that was bad and from behind when he was running away, that was cynical.

“But he’s so quick and can just move the ball away, people lunge in and suddenly the ball is not there and they catch him. I suppose when you are that good you are going to get that. The top players in the world, (Cristiano) Ronaldo and (Lionel) Messi, who can run at people with the ball and beat people all get that. He has got quick feet and is maybe a little bit too quick for the people he is playing against.”

Bale’s teammate, Younes Kaboul, added to Redknapp’s sentiments, saying: “Since last season Gareth is another player. Now all the right-backs in the league find it difficult to stop him. It’s very hard to stop him. Sometimes when he gets the ball and he runs down the left, the right-back says: ‘I’m going to catch him or wait for him’, but he cannot. Then sometimes they foul from the back as you saw against West Brom. But what can you do to stop him?” – Daily Mail