{"id":155058,"date":"2025-07-11T22:32:53","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T22:32:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/gareth-bale-i-have-loved-football-since-i-was-a-child-but-its-been-nice-to-step-away-a-bit-i-dont-miss-it\/"},"modified":"2025-07-11T22:32:53","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T22:32:53","slug":"gareth-bale-i-have-loved-football-since-i-was-a-child-but-its-been-nice-to-step-away-a-bit-i-dont-miss-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/gareth-bale-i-have-loved-football-since-i-was-a-child-but-its-been-nice-to-step-away-a-bit-i-dont-miss-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Gareth Bale: &#8220;I have loved football since I was a child, but it&#8217;s been nice to step away a bit. I don&#8217;t miss it.&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__bar-body\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__author ue-c-article__author--horizontal-from-tablet\" aria-label=\"Redacci\u00f3n:\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__author-avatar\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__author-avatar-item\">\n<figure class=\"ue-c-author-profile__photo\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-author-profile__photo-container\"><picture><source type=\"image\/webp\"  ><source type=\"image\/jpeg\"  ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" class=\"ue-c-author-profile__photo-img\" alt=\"Abraham P. Romero\" src=\"https:\/\/phantom-elmundo.uecdn.es\/73ff48c61efaefbe0b8196df1bb4dd81\/f\/image\/jpeg\/assets\/multimedia\/imagenes\/2022\/06\/01\/16540902265922.jpg\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__author-info\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__author-name\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__author-name-item\">Abraham P. Romero<span class=\"hidden-content\">Enviado especial Nueva York<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__author-caption\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<p><span>Enviado especial<\/span><span> Nueva York<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__bar-footer\">\n<p><span>Actualizado <\/span><time datetime=\"2025-07-11T22:26:02Z\"> S\u00e1bado,<br \/>\n12<br \/>\njulio<br \/>\n2025<br \/>\n&#8211;<br \/>\n<span>00:26<\/span><\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-section=\"articleBody\">\n<p class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph ue-c-article__paragraph\"><strong>Gareth Bale<\/strong>, the five-time winner of the <strong>Champions League<\/strong> with <strong>Real Madrid<\/strong>, has made a significant return to the sports world as a commentator for the <strong>Club World Cup<\/strong> on DAZN after stepping aside from professional football in 2022 at the age of 33. In an exclusive interview with <strong>EL MUNDO<\/strong> in <strong>New York<\/strong>, he shared his thoughts on various topics, including the current football landscape, tactics, and his enduring affection for Madrid and his former colleagues.<\/p>\n<h2>The Allure of the Club World Cup<\/h2>\n<p>Bale expressed his views on the ongoing <strong>Club World Cup<\/strong>, stating, &#8220;I think it\u2019s been a great tournament. At first, people weren&#8217;t sure about it, but now that we are in the later stages, you can see much more enthusiasm.&#8221; He highlighted the excitement of the semifinal match between <strong>PSG<\/strong> and Real Madrid, which showcased high-quality football. The upcoming final between <strong>PSG<\/strong> and <strong>Chelsea<\/strong> promises an intriguing encounter.<\/p>\n<h2>New Beginnings in Commentary<\/h2>\n<p>Transitioning into commentary has been a refreshing experience for Bale. &#8220;I enjoy it. I think I&#8217;m not a commentator per se; I simply share my opinions. It&#8217;s been nice to return to football after a few years away, and this is a good way to do it,&#8221; he explained. Despite his short detachment from the sport, Bale revealed that he does not miss playing professionally. &#8220;I do enjoy watching great matches, like the one between PSG and Madrid,&#8221; he confessed.<\/p>\n<h2>Player Accountability in Commentary<\/h2>\n<p>As an ex-footballer offering insights on screen, Bale acknowledged the importance of speaking thoughtfully about current players. &#8220;I always try to think about what I would want someone to say about me if I were on the pitch. Often, there are reasons behind a player&#8217;s underperformance that the public isn&#8217;t aware of.&#8221; He added, &#8220;I aim to provide a balanced perspective and not veer into negativity, as many do just for &#8216;clickbait&#8217; purposes.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2>Reflecting on Key Matches<\/h2>\n<p>Discussing the recent 4-0 loss of Real Madrid to PSG, Bale noted, &#8220;It was a hefty score, but I think the game would have been different without the early errors.&#8221; He pointed out that the inherent pressure of chasing a lead against a strong opponent complicates gameplay. &#8220;Regardless, when you&#8217;re in a knockout phase, the end result is what matters,&#8221; he reflected.<\/p>\n<h2>PSG: The Current Powerhouse<\/h2>\n<p>Bale recognizes PSG as the current best team in Europe. &#8220;Everyone enjoys watching PSG. They have an engaging style of play, characterized by high press and intense effort from younger players. They play more as a unit rather than focusing on individual superstars,&#8221; he stated. He believes their success in this tournament could solidify their position as the top team globally.<\/p>\n<h2>The Evolution of Football Tactics<\/h2>\n<p>The football world has undeniably transformed, according to Bale. &#8220;Today, it depends more on how coaches strategize than on individual brilliance. The game has evolved into a chess-like battle,&#8221; he remarked. He noted that trainers like Pep Guardiola have been instrumental in changing the game dynamics over the years.<\/p>\n<h2>The Future of Real Madrid<\/h2>\n<p>On the topic of Real Madrid&#8217;s future, Bale expressed optimism despite PSG&#8217;s current dominance. &#8220;You can never count Madrid out. They always remain a threat and are just a step away from reclaiming their elite status,&#8221; he emphasized. He highlighted the importance of giving <strong>Xabi Alonso<\/strong> time to settle in as a manager, expressing confidence in his ability to return Madrid to winning ways.<\/p>\n<h2>Time and Team Dynamics<\/h2>\n<p>Bale also discussed the importance of cohesive teamwork. &#8220;Xabi has only been in charge for a matter of weeks. After his successful stint at Bayer Leverkusen, I believe he will strive to unify the stars&#8217; efforts while allowing their individual talents to shine,&#8221; he asserted.<\/p>\n<h2>Adeus to Luka Modric<\/h2>\n<p>Reflecting on the retirement of <strong>Luka Modric<\/strong>, Bale noted the depth of their partnership. &#8220;Playing alongside him was a joy. I&#8217;ve played more games with Luka than anyone else. His extraordinary career speaks for itself,&#8221; he reminisced.<\/p>\n<h2>Concerns Over a Crowded Schedule<\/h2>\n<p>Lastly, Bale commented on the congested football calendar, voicing concerns for players&#8217; well-being. &#8220;There\u2019s too much football. From a player&#8217;s perspective, it&#8217;s worrying that they may not get adequate rest. The financial aspects of football promote creating more tournaments,&#8221; he stated, urging for a better-arranged schedule to allow players time to recuperate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/category\/general\/\" rel=\"dofollow\">General News &#8211; 2<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Abraham P. RomeroEnviado especial Nueva York Enviado especial Nueva York Actualizado S\u00e1bado, 12 julio 2025 &#8211; 00:26 Gareth Bale, the five-time winner of the Champions League with Real Madrid, has made a significant return to the sports world as a commentator for the Club World Cup on DAZN after stepping aside from professional football in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[36710,36743,37245],"class_list":["post-155058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","tag-deportes","tag-deportes-futbol","tag-real-madrid"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155058","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=155058"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155058\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=155058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=155058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=155058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}