What impression is given of Gareth Bale in this report? Story:

Gareth Bale today hit back at accusations that he dives by claiming he is just trying to protect himself from serious injury.

The Tottenham winger has been criticised this

season for “going to ground” too easily and

Stevenage manager Gary Smith was unhappy that

Bale was granted a penalty when challenged by

Mark Roberts last night.

‘I tend not to dive’, insists Bale

Doubts were also expressed about the

spot-kick awarded to Bale during the north London

derby last month, yet the Welshman insists he has

no option but to take evasive action from aggressive,

dirty tackles: “I try not to get in the way of tackles and if people want to say I’m diving then

they can but I’m trying to get out of the way and save myself, save my career if you like”,

he said. “You’ve got people flying in at you.

“If you stand there, you’re going to get a whack. Sometimes it looks like you’re diving but if

someone’s coming across you, you try to get out of the way. You can see why people say

you’re diving but I’d rather dive – meaning get out of the way - than get hurt. I tend not to

dive”.

Harry Redknapp has blasted claims that Gareth Bale is a diver – saying:

He just gets kicked all the time!

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp defended his player recently saying, “I don’t think he

dives”, but also suggested that Bale would need to accept that rough treatment will

increase as his reputation grows. Redknapp used the examples of Lionel Messi and

Cristiano Renaldo, probably the two most tightly-marked players in the game, to show Bale

what he can expect as his career develops.

He believes Bale should regard it as a compliment if teams seek to stop him by illegal

means and the 22-year old admitted he takes a degree of confidence from the way he is marking.