Gareth Bale is relaxed about his status as football's rising star - saying his previous hard times have played a vital role in his development.
It was not always the case, though, with the young Welshman having suffered with a long-term foot injury after his move from Southampton and famously not featured in a Spurs win until over two years after his arrival.
"When you've had the downs I think it makes you realise how important football is to you," he told the Daily Mail. "It's not a long career and you have to make the most of it. Every game you can play, you want to play because you know it's not going to last forever.
"They had to insert a screw into the foot. That was taken out after three months when the plaster came off. After that there were seven or eight months of rehab. Luckily it did turn out okay and you come out of those experiences stronger for them.
"I don't think about trying to become one of the best in the world or whatever. I just play football. That sort of stuff is for other people to talk about."
Bale was often used as a full-back both by the Saints and in his early days at White Hart Lane, but it is after reverting to his childhood role on the left side of midfield where he has made his impact.
At times this season he has displayed the sort of dominance over his opposition which led his PE teacher at school, Gwyn Morris, to introduce a new rule which Inter full-back Maicon may have appreciated over recent weeks.
"He banned me from using my left foot," Bale recalled. "If I did he would blow for a free-kick. I can't say I was too happy about it - I just wanted to dribble past people and score. But I guess he did it to even things up a bit and make me use my right foot more.
"I was always in midfield as a kid. Then I went back into defence and now I'm back in midfield again.
"You obviously have more of a licence to go forward in midfield, which I enjoy and that's probably the best part of my game. It's also nice not to have to worry about defending so much (but) it's not really for me to decide."
