Gareth Bale hasn’t been asked by Wales manager Chris Coleman for advice on how to handle Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.
Bale and Ronaldo will meet when Wales play Portugal in the Euro 2016 semi-final and the former was asked about the latter in an interview with AS, particularly on how Wales plan to cope with the Portugal talisman.
“I’ve not been asked at all [about Cristiano]. Of course I would give it, if it was needed, but our analyst is already informed about our opponents as he has been for the rest of the tournament. Everyone knows about Cristiano, about Pepe, so there’s need to say much more about them,” Bale revealed.
“The semi-final won’t be decisive for the Ballon d’Or. The Ballon d’Or doesn’t reward one game but a season. It’s not on my mind right now. I just want to help my teammates and fight to win trophies. It’s not for us to decide those individual awards.
“It doesn’t bother me that [Wales-Portugal is reduced to Bale-Ronaldo]. Everyone talks about us but the reality is it’s Wales-Portugal. It’s not about us, it’s about two teams. I know the Press hypes the game like that but it’s not just that. Wales’ star is the team. We work together as one. That’s what has allowed us to get results and so we’ll continue.
“Cristiano is a fantastic player, but I think we should be more concerned with ourselves than the opponent. We’ve played against teams with great individuals other times and won. We haven’t sent each other messages. We’re focused on our national teams.
“Pepe? The first thing to say is that he is very valuable for Madrid, a fantastic professional and a great guy who has always been very good to me. Of course [if he’s injured] it will be a big loss to Portugal if he doesn’t play but if he does make it in the end it will be very difficult because he’s an excellent defender.”
