Bale warns Spurs fans he won’t be doing ’90 yard runs down the wing’ and is more ‘mature’ now
GARETH BALE has promised he will be back to his brilliant best for Tottenham – because he is finally able to play happy again.
Bale has gone from one of the top players in world football to a forgotten man after two years in the wilderness at Real Madrid which he admits left him feeling low.
But the 31-year-old has sent a warning to the rest of the Premier League that he expects to be back to his devastating top level now he is feeling wanted again.
Bale said: “When I’m happy I play my best football and I feel like coming back here to Spurs I’m very happy.
“I already feel the love just being with the staff and the players, and feel when I’m in that mindset my best football comes out.
“I’ve enjoyed it at Real, obviously there’s ups and downs at every club wherever you go.
“Maybe the highs have been incredibly high and the lows maybe have been a bit low.
“I enjoyed my time there, playing for Real Madrid and achieving what we achieved and what I achieved, but it is time for the next chapter in my career.”
Bale, speaking to BT Sport, says he aims to embrace the love he feels again by aiming to help Spurs win TWO trophies this season.
If he can do that, he will go a long way to repaying the £230,000-a-week the London club are contributing to his £650,00-a-week wages over the course of the loan deal.
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But he has told the Spurs fans not to expect him to be repeating the barnstorming runs up and down the left wing he specialised in during his previous spell in North London.
The Welsh star added: “I want to continue to win trophies and I want to do it at Tottenham.
“It’s nice to be back in an environment where I’m loved and looking forward to the future.
“You are able to play your best football when you feel that love from the fans, coming back here I knew I was going to get a good reception.
“I love the club, I loved my time here and to come back, feel that emotion, hopefully now we can kick on this season try and win a trophy or two and to just enjoy my football.
“I’m a mature person now, I’ve had to grow up living abroad. As a player I’m not going to be doing those 90 yard runs down the wing every second.
“I understand my game more, it’s evolved a little bit. But I still think I have a lot to offer, I still have my pace.”
“I’m a mature person now, I’ve had to grow up living abroad. As a player I’m not going to be doing those 90 yard runs down the wing every second.
Gareth Bale
Spurs have gone 12 years since they last won any silverware, the EFL Cup back in 2008, so to suddenly turn things round to a period of success is going to take some doing.
But Bale is convinced that in Jose Mourinho they have the perfect manager to deliver trophies.
He said: “Obviously he’s a big key in me coming – he’s a household name and a winner and I think he’s the perfect fit for Tottenham.
“We all want to win trophies and he knows how to better than anyone.”