Source: PA
Bale: Redknapp talks key to turnaround
Gareth Bale has revealed how showdown talks with Harry Redknapp made him "toughen up" and become one of the most talked about players on the planet.
Bale has been one of the stars of 2010, both in the Barclays Premier League and Champions League, with his performances against Inter Milan in the latter competition earning him superstar status.
"Looking back on some things, I think, 'Wow'," Bale told BBC Wales Sport after adding the 2010 BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality award to his Welsh Footballer of the Year prize. "A year ago, I did not think I would be doing stuff like that. It did take a while for me to hold down a first-team spot at Tottenham - and longer than I expected it would.
"I had a lot of injuries and was out for eight months with my foot injury and six months with my knee injury. But I don't think I ever thought my future lay elsewhere.
"When I wasn't playing, I went in to see the manager and to ask when was I going to be given my chance. There were a lot of things the manager wanted me to do and there were certain aspects of my game I needed to improve on. And he wanted me to toughen up as I was still a young boy at the time.
"So I worked hard in training to prove to him that I was worthy of a spot in the team. He always said, 'Be patient and keep working hard in training and you will get your chance'. So I was always confident, I just had to be prepared and ready to give 100% when the chance came. And I got my chance and never looked back."
