Football Update: Assou-Ekotto Thinks Ferreira Can’t Handle Bale
Tottenham midfielder Benoit Assou-Ekotto said he felt that Paulo Ferreira had a tough task ahead of him in trying to contain Gareth Bale. Assou-Ekotto spoke to reporters ahead of the clash against Chelsea at White Hart Lane, he was certain Ferreira would
have a difficult time handling Bale, who has recently been in terrific form.
Assou-Ekotto said, “Bale is one of the best players in Europe at the moment. We have to keep him for a long time if we want to be successful. I’m just glad I am a left-back and he’s left midfield as it means I don’t even have to face him in training.
He can cause so many problems so whoever has to face him will worry.”
The Spurs midfielder was keen his club did not sell the youngster, the demand for whom has risen greatly in recent times. Even though Bale has insisted he wants to remain at White Hart Lane, nothing is certain. Assou-Ekotto added,
“If Spurs want to be a very big club one day, like Chelsea or Manchester United, we have to keep him. We don’t want to try and sell him to the other big clubs.”
In last season’s corresponding fixture, Ferreira only featured for 45 minutes, during which he did not make much of an impression. The match ended 2-1 to Tottenham and it was Gareth Bale who scored the winner for his side. Even last season, the youngster
seemed unstoppable as he outran and outplayed the Portuguese international.
Last season Spurs finished fourth on the Premier League table, which gave them a shot at Champions League football. Harry Redknapp’s side have made the most of it, finishing top of their group. Gareth Bale is to be given much credit for their success in
Europe; the youngster singlehandedly destroyed their toughest opponents, Inter Milan, to dominate the group.
Assou-Ekotto was pleased with his side’s success but was determined to work harder, he said,
“We have started well this season. We are new in the Champions League and we have had to get used to playing twice a week, which is not easy. But we have to get on with it if we want to finish fourth. We want to finish higher than that and I think we can.”
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