Thursday, 1st May, 2014
Wales manager Chris Coleman feels Gareth Bale has silenced his critics after helping Real Madrid reach the Champions League final.
The speedy winger has been under close scrutiny since his move to Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur for a world record fee of £85.3m during the summer transfer window.
However, Bale has been in fine form for Los Blancos, scoring 20 goals in addition to providing 19 assists in 41 appearances in all competitions.
The 24-year-old also helped Real Madrid to clinch the Spanish Cup by scoring the winner against Barcelona in the final.
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And Coleman, who believes Bale has justified his price-tag, is hugely impressed with the Welsh international’s outings in the present campaign, especially because the winger did not undergo any pre-season training.
"I think Madrid have been impressed with him. I think they realise how good he is and what they've got", he told the BBC.
"Now he's in the Champions League final and it doesn't get much better than that.
"One or two people said one or two things about Gareth this season [asking] was he worth the money and he's had an alright season – I can't understand that.
"I've seen most of his games and in the big games when he's needed to perform and need to answer questions, he's done that.
"It was a huge thing for him to go from Tottenham to Real Madrid for that amount of money, going into the dressing room and having to impress some of those players and Carlo Ancelotti, a manager who has won everything.
"And bearing in mind he had no pre-season, incredible. I think he's answered those questions."
Bale, who has 44 caps and 12 goals for Wales to his name, has also represented the nation at various youth levels.
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