Real Clarify Bale Injury

Getty Images

Real Madrid have denied a report published by Marca newspaper which says world-record signing Gareth Bale has suffered a slipped disc in his back.

Bale has started just once for Los Blancos since arriving from Premier League side Tottenham for £85m.

The Welshman scored on his home debut but has played only twice since.

"The information published, claiming that the player has a slipped disc on the vertebrae is completely false," Madrid said in a statement.

Marca claim the MRI scan on 2 September - the day of Bale's official presentation at the Bernabeu - detected a slipped disc in the back on the L5 -S1 vertebrae and a bulge on L4 -L5.

Headlined 'Bale's secret slips out', the article also states that although the injury is not giving him trouble and will not prevent him from playing for the foreseeable future, it may require surgery further down the line.

Real's statement in full read:

"In response to the information that the newspaper Marca has published today regarding the player Gareth Bale, Real Madrid would like to state the following:

The information published, claiming that the player has a slipped disc on the L5-S1 vertebrae and a bulge on two others, is completely false.

The player does not have a slipped disc, as the club's medical services stated clearly to the newspaper before the information was published. Surprisingly, the version the doctors offered this media outlet on Thursday 10 October has been omitted.

The player Gareth Bale has a small chronic disc bulge, which is extremely common among football players and by no means prevents him from carrying out his professional activity normally."

Related articles

• Madrid deny Bale has slipped disc
• Real Madrid deny reports that Gareth Bale has a slipped disc
• Real Madrid deny claims Gareth Bale has suffered a slipped disc and requires surgery
• Real Madrid deny Gareth Bale surgery claims
• Report: Gareth Bale suffering from a slipped disc
• Football Transfers - Waiting For a New Record

MacKay Values Spurs Changes

Getty Images

Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay believes the world record sale of Gareth Bale has allowed Tottenham Hotspur to transform themselves in to a Champions League side.

Spurs sold Welshman Bale for £85m to Spanish giants Real Madrid.

The player's ex-club have signed seven players at a total cost of around £105m

"Because of the extra amount of money the Bale deal actually made for the club, their squad looks like a Champions League squad," said Mackay.

Cardiff welcome Spurs to the City Stadium on Sunday looking for another major Premier League scalp after beating Manchester City.

But they could face a Spurs side containing the likes of Paulinho, Nacer Chadli, Roberto Soldado, Etienne Capoue, Vlad Chiriches, Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen who manager Andre Villas-Boas has brought in.

And Tottenham sit third in the Premier League, nine places above the Bluebirds.

"Spurs went out and brought all those players in and then eventually did the [Bale] deal," said Mackay.

"It looks as if it has been very good business.

"The players that they brought in - everyone in football knew in football they were top talents that were on the market and they were going to cost a lot of money

"It was a top-six Premier League squad but they have gone and strengthened in depth and some of the players they have got I really covet.

"Spurs' agenda this year I'm pretty sure is to be a Champions League team.

"They might have a big fixture schedule, but they have got a big squad as well, a squad full of quality."

Mackay says that playing against a Spurs side without Bale would have been a blessing if they had not then spent £100m.

"We are going to be preparing against a team who, number one, who are up for it and, number two, packed full of quality," added Mackay.

"They have bought very well. To have such a match winner in Gareth Bale and the amount of individual goals he scored certainly made Spurs a different team at times.

"That is a huge hole to fill, but they have filled it very, very well.

"Because of the extraordinary size of that fee it's allowed Spurs to go out and bring in seven or eight high quality footballers.

"And it's changed the look of Tottenham Hotspur in terms of where they are as a squad in terms of their strength in depth and the challenge they may provide in the Premier League this year."

Related articles

• Tottenham are better without Gareth Bale: Malky Mackay
• Tottenham Hotspur are better without Galactico Gareth Bale, says Cardiff City's Andrew Taylor
• Title Talk: Tottenham
• Tottenham Hotspur: Villas-Boas wants Spurs to focus
• André Villas-Boas: Arsenal have 'paid heavily' to secure Mesut Özil
• Tottenham are back in the big time despite Bale loss

Marca Claim Real Bale Deal Done

Reports in the Spanish press claim that Gareth Bale has agreed a six-year deal with Real Madrid - despite Tottenham steadfastly insisting their winger is not for sale at any price.

Sports daily Marca, which is well known for its close allegiance to Real, also claims that Bale will be paid 10m Euros (£8.6m) a season and has already told Spurs he wants to leave.

However, this is in stark contrast to Andre Villas-Boas' stance - the Tottenham manager re-iterating the club's position as recently as Tuesday morning.

Speaking at a press conference in Hong Kong ahead of the Asia Trophy, Villas-Boas said: "On Gareth, I want to repeat what I was telling you last season and what I was telling you from the beginning of (pre-season) so I cannot extend myself.

"He is a player that we are willing to continue to have, he's a Tottenham player, he's one of the most fantastic players in the world at the moment and we are counting on him for the future."

Bale has never given any indication that he wants to leave White Hart Lane and, speaking two weeks ago following a pre-season friendly, the Welshman spoke of his desire to push Tottenham towards Champions League qualification.

"I think everyone at the club wants us to finish in the top four, the club wants to be in the top four, and we need to go one better this season and finish in the top four," he said.

Bale won both the Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year following a superb last season.

And former teammate Ledley King is convinced Bale will be part of Spurs' push for the Champions League next season.

"The season he had last year was a big part of our achievements, and he knows we'll be looking to do the same this season," he told Sky Sports News.

"I know Gareth's happy, he's come back in good spirits and I'm hoping he's going to have a good season again."

King also believes the 24-year-old will take the speculation over his future in his stride.

"I think you get used to it as a player," he added. "The kind of player he's grown to be, it's something that you have to deal with.

"He's a good lad, he's got a good head on his shoulders and he knows the main thing for him is just to concentrate on his football and the rest will take care of itself."

Related articles

• Gareth Bale in good spirits and happy at Spurs, says Ledley King
• Tottenham transfer news: Real Madrid to bid world record £85million for Tottenham's Gareth Bale
• Tottenham transfer news: Roberto Soldado and James McCarthy lined up by Spurs as Real Madrid 'plot late bid for Gareth Bale'
• Real Madrid looking to raise €100m to bid for Gareth Bale [Marca]
• Tottenham Transfer Rumours: Keeping Gareth Bale Should Be Top Priority
• Real Madrid give up on signing Gareth Bale for now but will try again next summer

Lazio v Tottenham Hotspur - Preview

Getty Images

Mousa Dembele is unlikely to feature for Tottenham in their Europa League Group J fixture at Lazio, despite travelling with the squad.

The Belgian midfielder has overcome a hip injury, but Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas says he will not play.

Steven Caulker has overcome the knee injury that ruled him out of Saturday's 5-2 defeat to Arsenal.

Scott Parker (Achilles), Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Younes Kaboul (both knee) are out.

Brad Friedel has been left in London, so Hugo Lloris will start in goal.

Lazio defender Andre Dias is out for a month following an injury picked up in the goalless draw with Juventus, while midfielder Ederson has a thigh muscle tear and is out for a few weeks.

Tottenham, who have lost four of their last five games, are second in the group with six points, two behind Lazio.

The Italian side can qualify for the last 32 with a win over Spurs.

Provisional squad: Lloris, Cudicini, Naughton, Walker, Caulker, Gallas, Dawson, Vertonghen, Livermore, Huddlestone, Sigurdsson, Lennon, Bale, Mason, Dembele, Carroll, Townsend, Dempsey, Defoe, Adebayor.

Related articles

• Lazio v Tottenham
• Lazio v Tottenham preview
• Tottenham Hotspur: Moussa return boost
• Lazio v Tottenham Hotspur: match preview
• Tottenham's André Villas-Boas fears repeat of racist chants by Lazio fans
• Lazio vs Tottenham Preview: Team News, Likely Line-ups & Predicted Score

AVB Says RDM Sacking Inevitable

Getty Images

Former Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas says he is not surprised Roberto Di Matteo was sacked by the club.

Villas-Boas was dismissed by the Blues in March, and was replaced by Di Matteo who went on to win the UEFA Champions League and FA Cup.

But with the Blues facing an early exit from the Champions League in the group stage, owner Roman Abramovich has sacked the Italian.

Villa-Boas, now Spurs manager, said: "At Chelsea, I think another sacking is just like any other day at the office. That's my interpretation.

"Roberto has achieved so much in such a little amount of time. His CV is maybe one of the best in the world now - he has won the Champions League and the FA Cup too.

"It was difficult for Robbie and I wish him well for the rest of his career.

"Regarding the club, it's their decision, it's what they think will take them forward but other than that I can't comment."

Related articles

• Villas-Boas: Sack predictable
• Chelsea sack Roberto Di Matteo
• Sacked! Roberto Di Matteo has 'parted company' with Chelsea after Champions League defeat at Juventus
• Chelsea fires Di Matteo after Juventus defeat
• Chelsea set to announce new boss
• Chelsea sack manager Di Matteo

Gazza to Miss Spurs Lazio Clash

Paul Gascoigne looks unlikely to attend Thursday's UEFA Europa League clash between two of his former clubs, Lazio and Tottenham, the ex-England midfielder's management company said.

Gascoigne became a cult hero at Spurs after four successful years at White Hart Lane and he then went on to achieve similar status at Lazio after moving to the Italian capital in 1992.

The affection with which he is remembered by the Italian club prompted the club's general manager Maurizio Manzini to immediately invite the 45-year-old to this Thursday's encounter between the two sides when they were drawn together in Group J in August.

But Gascoigne looks set to miss the game as he has already been booked to speak at an event at the Concorde Club in Eastleigh, Southampton, the day after the match.

A spokesperson for Gascoigne's management company A1 said: "As far as we know he is not going (to the match).

"He is working for us on the 23rd at a public speaking function in Southampton so we don't think he will go (to Rome)."

Gascoigne declined an invite to September's reverse fixture at White Hart Lane due to "personal reasons".

Gascoigne, who played 57 times for his country, was regarded as the most skilful English player of his generation.

The former Newcastle and Rangers star has struggled to deal with alcohol problems since retirement but his agent said this summer that he had embarked on a health drive.

Gascoigne wants to start coaching to get his life back on track.

The FA and England head physio Gary Lewin are organising a hip operation for the troubled star so he can play again.

Gazza, 45, has even lined up a role coaching kids at League One's AFC Bournemouth once fit.

He said: "I might start doing my coaching badges again. When I'm coaching I need to twist and turn properly so I can show the lads some of the amazing things I used to do."

Source: ITV Sports

Related articles

• Wonder strikes to rival Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Telegraph Sport writers pick their favourites
• Tottenham 0-0 Lazio: Match report and pictures
• Paul Gascoigne's talented side (Video)
• Back on form: Paul Gascoigne's bid to become a kids' football coach
• The days when Gazza was the ringleader in Channel 4's Italian job | Sean Ingle
• Gazza's England cap to be auctioned at Chorley pub

Wenger is All About Derbies

Getty Images

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger feels the outcome of this season's meetings with Tottenham could have a bearing on who qualifies for the Champions League.

Andre Villas-Boas believes his Spurs side "have to" finish above their north London rivals to secure fourth place.

And Wenger said: "The results in the derbies can have a big influence on the Champions League qualifying spot.

"They [Tottenham] are always a team who are fighting with us now and what's important in the end is consistency."

Heading into Saturday's meeting at Emirates Stadium, Arsenal sit eighth in the Premier League - a point behind Spurs after 11 games.

Tottenham have not finished above the Gunners since 1995 and last season let slip a 10-point advantage to end up a place below them.

They went into the second north London derby on 26 February knowing victory would take them 13 points above Arsenal with 12 games left, but surrendered a 2-0 lead to lose 5-2.

But it is a far cry from the early years of Wenger's reign, when he led Arsenal to the title in 1998, 2002 and 2004 as Tottenham finished 14th, 9th and 14th respectively.

"For some time we were winning championships and they were not in the top four at all, so of course they have got closer in recent years," said the Frenchman. "But we managed to always fortunately get above.

"It was later on last year, it was our last chance to catch Tottenham back because if we had lost the game they were out of sight.

"But this year is important as well. Every London derby is very important and we dropped some points recently so want to come back in a more consistent way of results. It's a good opportunity to do that.

"They are a good side, a dangerous side. They are quite physical. With Sandro and [Tom] Huddlestone now in the middle they are stronger physically and still very dangerous on the counter-attacks.

"My chairman knows how much that game means to me and everybody at the club. I've played these derbies for 16 years now so at least I understand the important of it."

The clubs have issued a joint statement warning supporters that anti-social behaviour during the match will not be tolerated.

Related articles

• Arsenal Receive Huge Injury Boost Ahead of Vital Tottenham Hotspur Clash
• Derby games are crucial
• Andre Villas-Boas: Tottenham closing on Arsenal
• Andre Villas-Boas: Tottenham have got to finish above rivals Arsenal
• Arsenal vs. Tottenham: Premier League Live Score, Highlights, Recap (7.45am ET)
• Fever bitch: Wenger's a victim of his own success at Arsenal claims AVB