Ex-Tottenham boss names the reason for Bale’s struggles

Spurs’ former star player has only made one start in the Premier League since his long-awaited comeback this season.

Glenn Hoddle believes Gareth Bale’s fitness levels are no longer holding him back at Tottenham, citing the Welshman’s mentality as the biggest obstacle holding him back instead.

The 31-year-old has struggled to make an impact in his season-long loan spell from Real Madrid. He has made eight Premier League appearances and scored a winner against Brighton last month.

Jose Mourinho has only started Bale once in the English top-flight, though. The Spurs boss has instead named him as a starter in all six of the club’s Europa League group-stage matches but has substituted him in each game.

Frequent injury issues over the last few years, along with falling out of favor with Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid, took their toll on Bale’s fitness.

But Hoddle is convinced Bale has a lot more to offer Spurs and urged the winger to start pushing himself more in games.

“I always said when he came back that I do not think we should expect anywhere near the same Gareth Bale that left Tottenham or achieved what he did at Real Madrid,” the former Spurs manager told the Evening Standard.

“Do not forget that he has not actually been playing in the main Spurs team. Jose Mourinho has not seen enough from him and I have not seen enough from him.

“Gareth has had time to get fit and has got fitter, so I do not think it is his fitness now. It is a mentality with him now.

“He has to push himself more, physically and mentally, and he could be like a brand new player waiting to join this Tottenham squad.

“He has just been on the periphery and he has to be a little bit more, ‘I am the man, you have got to give me the ball’.

“Gareth is not going to be running past four or five players like he used to but I think he can create.

“He has a good pass on him and with more time on the pitch, he will get a good link with Harry Kane and Heung min-Son.

“One of the things Tottenham are lacking is creativity. There is not that creative spark. Gareth Bale coming back would be sensational. But he has more to show.”