Gareth Bale has responded to criticism over his performances this season by claiming he doesn’t have to prove himself to anyone.
The 25-year-old has been jeered by Real Madrid supporters on numerous occasions at the Santiago Bernabeu and even had his car attacked after last week’s Clasico defeat to Barcelona.
But he came out fighting following Wales’ 3-0 Euro 2016 qualifying victory over Israel, telling reporters: “I don’t need to answer the critics. I know, and everyone around me knows, what I can do.
“There are ups and downs in football, you have to take it with a pinch of salt and all you can do is respond with your performances on the pitch, like that.
“I don’t feel I need to prove anyone wrong or right, I just need to play my football.”