Jose Mourinho has blamed Real Madrid for Gareth Bale's poor start to the campaign with Tottenham and accused Zinedine Zidane of not being patient with the Welshman.
The 31-year-old was greeted with a royal fanfare when he returned to Spurs last summer, but his loan spell back at the club hasn't quite gone according to plan.
In what was an underwhelming first half of the campaign for Bale, Mourinho grew frustrated with not being able to fully utilise the winger, while injuries further delayed a return to form.
However, Bale is showing glimpses of his former self and put in a man of the match performance in the 4-0 win over Burnley, where he scored a brace and brilliantly set up Harry Kane on Sunday.
The result at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium means Bale now has four goals and four assists in as many games, leaving Mourinho to point out that the quality has always been there.
Asked why it had taken Bale so long to get up to speed, Mourinho said: 'Why for the past two years he had what he had in Madrid. Ask them.
'Maybe if they answer you, you can understand better why he took a while. Maybe to being patient was the main reason for him to reach the level he showed in the last couple of weeks.'
In his last two seasons at the Bernabeu, Bale was reduced to cameo roles under Zidane and often found himself watching games from the stands, causing fans to lose patience with him given his mammoth £600,000-a-week salary.
Now back in familiar surroundings and playing with a smile on his face, Bale could look to extend his season-long loan from Madrid once the season ends this summer.
With Bale back in the starting lineup, Mourinho was asked whether he would feature against Fulham on Thursday.
Mourinho said when asked about Bale's chances of starting: 'I believe so. Start the game, being on the bench, I don't know. We have to decide.
'He's such an experienced guy so of course his opinion is v important. But good reaction, good recovering session and he will be involved. I repeat: bench or starting but he'll be there.'
Bale has scored eight goals and registered five assists in 22 outings for Spurs during the 2020-21 season.
Husaiklnr
493
bale didn't seem to show passion in football, agreeeeed! but i think it is mainlyyyy because of Zidanes treatment to him, Zidane never gave him more minutes. If their relationship was good or even normal. Bale wouldn't have seemed to give it up at Madrid. So now it was imp was for to leave us, and start a new chapter at any other club, Tot was the best option. Back to where he began. Proved himself in Europa, became confident on scoring goals. Then mou trusted him finally, started him recently in few PL matches, and he's Killlllingggg it. Love him! Now he better settles there, can't see him doing well at Madrid. So all the best Gareth. Not all Madridistas know your pain
LFC6203
402
bale is bale's problem... he gave up on himself and you expect others to believe in him... nobody rates you higher than you rate yourself... as a professional if you have 5mins on the field then make it count... how can a player tell the coach not to put him in the match day squad and you think he has the intention of been better.... please gimme a break this bale is unserious with himself... been in a club and poking fun at the club with your national team mates... Mark my words he'll soon do it to Tottenham... when you support a disrespectful kid know he'll serve you same meal one day so mourinho should patiently wait for his turn...
messivv
369
bale is bale's problem... he gave up on himself and you expect others to believe in him... nobody rates you higher than you rate yourself... as a professional if you have 5mins on the field then make it count... how can a player tell the coach not to put him in the match day squad and you think he has the intention of been better.... please gimme a break this bale is unserious with himself... been in a club and poking fun at the club with your national team mates... Mark my words he'll soon do it to Tottenham... when you support a disrespectful kid know he'll serve you same meal one day so mourinho should patiently wait for his turn...
jreye
141
bale is bale's problem... he gave up on himself and you expect others to believe in him... nobody rates you higher than you rate yourself... as a professional if you have 5mins on the field then make it count... how can a player tell the coach not to put him in the match day squad and you think he has the intention of been better.... please gimme a break this bale is unserious with himself... been in a club and poking fun at the club with your national team mates... Mark my words he'll soon do it to Tottenham... when you support a disrespectful kid know he'll serve you same meal one day so mourinho should patiently wait for his turn...
danriwbik
11
bale is bale's problem... he gave up on himself and you expect others to believe in him... nobody rates you higher than you rate yourself... as a professional if you have 5mins on the field then make it count... how can a player tell the coach not to put him in the match day squad and you think he has the intention of been better.... please gimme a break this bale is unserious with himself... been in a club and poking fun at the club with your national team mates... Mark my words he'll soon do it to Tottenham... when you support a disrespectful kid know he'll serve you same meal one day so mourinho should patiently wait for his turn...
why the duplicate??
hsydhdb
8
bale didn't seem to show passion in football, agreeeeed! but i think it is mainlyyyy because of Zidanes treatment to him, Zidane never gave him more minutes. If their relationship was good or even normal. Bale wouldn't have seemed to give it up at Madrid. So now it was imp was for to leave us, and start a new chapter at any other club, Tot was the best option. Back to where he began. Proved himself in Europa, became confident on scoring goals. Then mou trusted him finally, started him recently in few PL matches, and he's Killlllingggg it. Love him! Now he better settles there, can't see him doing well at Madrid. So all the best Gareth. Not all Madridistas know your pain
Now who is copying who?