Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has offered an explanation as to why Premier League clubs find it tough in Europe, saying the winter schedule of the league gives clubs from other countries an advantage.
The Welshman, who spent his entire career playing in England until 2013, moved to Real Madrid in that summer, and has since won two Champions League titles in three seasons.
Los Blancos look like they would be contending for Europe's premier tournament this season as well. If they win it, they would become the first team to win it in successive seasons in the Champions League era.
Speaking toTheSunahead of Real Madrid's second leg tie against Napoli, Bale was asked why Premier League clubs find it tough in Europe.
Gareth Bale: "And, obviously, the winter break is massive. In England you'll play four or five games and we don't play any."
He said, "I think I know why “ but you can't change it. It's the league itself. In every Premier League game you have to be at 100 per cent for 90 minutes or you lose.Spanish teams definitely know they have this edge over English teams. I think every country does: Spain, Italy, Germany “ they all have a winter break."
Bale then also spoke about how matches in the Premier League are much more competitive, saying, "Also in Spain, you can be up at half-time against the bottom club and you can take your foot off the gas. You can take people off."
He added, "In England you'll play four or five games and we don't play any. You don't get many rest days and it really does burn you out for a long time.We have seven, eight, nine days off.It's basically just rest. Then we'll have a week of double-sessions to get back up to speed."
Another point he addressed was the competitiveness in the Premier League and La Liga, insisting that the Premier League is more competitive, but that the La Liga top six are stronger.
"In terms of one-to-20 the Premier League is the closest. On any given day, 20th can beat top. Here, not so much. It's a bigger gap.The Premier League is by far the most competitive - but the teams that always perform in Europe are from Spain,� he concluded.