Gareth Bale unlikely to start against Milan, says Tottenham manager - 7M sport

Gareth Bale unlikely to start against Milan, says Tottenham manager



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Posted Wednesday, March 09, 2011 by theguardian.com

• 'I don't think he is fit enough to start' says Harry Redknapp
• Fabio Capello: 'Bale is No1 player in the world in his position'

Gareth Bale unlikely to start against Milan, says Tottenham manager
Tottenham are praying that Gareth Bale will be fit enough for the Milan fixture.

Harry Redknapp has suggested that Gareth Bale will not be fit to start the Champions League last‑16 second-leg tie against Milan at White Hart Lane, although the Tottenham Hotspur manager will postpone a decision until Wednesday morning on the man who Fabio Capello has described as "the No1 player in the world in his position".

Bale played his first football since 22 January on Sunday, when he came on as a 69th‑minute substitute in the 3-3 Premier League draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers. It was an eye-catching cameo in which he hit his stride immediately and the left-winger hopes to be unleashed against the Serie A leaders, who are wary of his threat.

Although he did not play in the first leg at San Siro, which Tottenham won 1-0, Bale twice turned in outstanding performances at the group stage against Internazionale, which advertised his talents to a global audience.

Bale's team-mate Rafael van der Vaart, who himself is back to fitness after a calf problem and will start, said that the Welshman "did well today in training" and was fit.

Van der Vaart said: "He played 20 minutes against Wolves and, after the game, he said he was fit and, hopefully, he will be because if he can do what he did against Maicon [the Inter right‑back], then it's great for us."

Bale aggravated a niggling back problem at Newcastle United on 22 January and his fitness has provided arguably the principal plotline in the build-up to one of the biggest games that White Hart Lane has staged. When Redknapp entered the debate, though, he was cautious and a little pessimistic. He said that Bale's back was "fine" but that he had felt some stiffness down his legs.

"We've got to see how he is," Redknapp said. "He trained today, he did a little bit but I am not too sure about the game. I don't think he is fit enough to start. He doesn't feel that he is quite ready.

"He is a great weapon to bring on ... I just hope that he will be able to come on. I am sure, yes, that Milan will get a lift when they see that Gareth is not in the team."

Redknapp bridled at the suggestion that he was employing kidology. "I wouldn't sit here and tell you lies," the Spurs manager said. "I'm telling you how it is, which is probably a lot more open than most people would be.

"I'm sure Gareth is desperate to play but I don't think he will play if he doesn't feel 100%. It's his decision as to whether he is ready or not. If he's not quite right, then I wouldn't want to take a chance on him. If the boy says he is not ready to start, then I wouldn't push him."

Bale had woken to headlines in the Italian press featuring Capello's lavish praise. The England manager will be among the sellout crowd at White Hart Lane. "Bale is today the No1 player in the world," Capello said. "He is the only one who can make a difference in the role he plays as he has pace, technique and strength. He reminds me of Roberto Carlos ... he was an explosive player and the only one who came even close to Bale. Gareth's pace also reminds me of the Real Madrid midfielder Francisco Gento, who was unstoppable when he set off down the flank."

Redknapp agreed and stressed once again that it was vital for Tottenham to resist the big-money offers that will come in for Bale at the end of the season. "I don't think there is a better left-sided player," he said. "He has got everything. If you sell him, for whatever amount of money, you can go and buy two or three players but you're not going to find anyone like Gareth. He's that special that you can't replace him."

A white-hot atmosphere will feature an undercurrent of needle, which will be directed at Mathieu Flamini, the Milan midfielder, who compounded his sin, in the eyes of the Tottenham faithful, of being a former Arsenal man with the two-footed tackle that forced Vedran Corluka off in the first leg. Surprisingly, Corluka has recovered his fitness and he is set to return at right-back.

"Maybe Vedran is still a bit angry," Van der Vaart said, "but we need him for the whole 90 minutes so he's not going to do stupid things."

Both Van der Vaart and Redknapp said that there was no lingering ill feeling from the flashpoint after the first leg, when Gennaro Gattuso head-butted Joe Jordan, the Tottenham assistant manager. Gattuso is suspended.

Tottenham have promised to attack at pace; defending the slender advantage is not in their make-up. The scene is set for a memorable evening, whatever part Bale is to play.



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