Don’t write off world-class Bale, says former Wales boss

Paul Macdonald

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:44 CDT
• 2 min read

Former Wales manager Chris Coleman insists Gareth Bale can bounce back after a miserable season on loan at Tottenham Hotspur.

Bale, 31, is back at Spurs after a difficult few years at Real Madrid. Returning to his former club was expected to see him return to his best form, but with just one goal in six Premier League appearances this season, it hasn’t gone to plan.

Coleman, who worked with Bale at Euro 2016 when Wales reached the semi finals, is refusing to write off the forward, who he says can find his form again.

“We all know what a world-class player he is. He can win a game, he can score a goal from nothing, he’s got a last pass,” Coleman told Monday Night Football, per Metro.

“But when I’m watching him now it looks like he’s always on his first game back after an injury. Obviously, we expected him to be in the flow of it by now but he clearly isn’t. He’s only 31 so I wouldn’t write him off.

“I don’t know what’s happened at Tottenham but knowing Gareth, he’s a very serious boy about his football and he loves playing football.

“I’ve heard comments that maybe he’ll be happy to be on the bench. He won’t be happy on the bench – not the Gareth Bale that I know.

“He will very much want to be in the heart of it and if he’s not quite there yet, he’s either not ready physically or maybe mentally there’s a lack of confidence.”

It has been said that Bale has lost his motivation, having been criticised for his attitude in Spain after falling out with Zinedine Zidane.

There is no such suggestion that he has a difficult relationship with Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho.