I don't need to answer any of my critics: Gareth Bale
Real Madrid striker Gareth Bale has reiterated that he doesn't need to provide any answers to his critics and said that everybody knows about his potential. The Welsh forward scored a brace in Wales’ Euro 2016 qualifier against Isreal on Saturday to help them seal a 3-0 win after Aaron Ramsey had opened the scoring for his side.
"I don't need to answer the critics.I know, and everyone around me knows, what I can do,” Bale said after the game.
The 25-year-old hasn't had the best of times for Madrid so far this season and even had his car attacked last week at the club’s training complex following Los Blancos’s 2-1 defeat to Barcelona in the El Clasico. The Welshman further said that every footballer hits peaks and troughs during the course of his career and the only way to give it back to those who doubted a player’s credentials was by delivering on the pitch.
“There are ups and downs in football, you have to take it with a pinch of salt and all you can do is respond with your performances on the pitch, like that.
“I don't feel I need to prove anyone wrong or right, I just need to play my football,” he said.
Extremely satisfying to win away from home: Bale
Talking about his performance on the night, Bale expressed delight in playing a substantial role in helping his country win and also sounded happy about winning away from home.
“It's obviously great to score for Wales and all that comes with it, but the most important thing was the victory. We put a great performance in, we just worked hard and every single player on the pitch deserves the credit,” the forward said.
"Yes definitely, especially away from home, and especially the pressure we were under,” he added.
He also said the win was a statement to the rest of the teams and that this side had no intentions to squander such a massive chance to perform on the global stage.
“It's a statement. It's no secret we want qualify and to qualify we have to win hard games. We have to come to places like this and win and we certainly did that.
“It's probably the biggest game we've had in 12 years or so and to perform under pressure like that gives us a lot of belief and confidence going forward,” he said.