Mauricio Pochettino laughs off loan return for Gareth Bale
TOTTENHAM boss Mauricio Pochettino, in response to a possible loan move, insists Gareth Bale has what it takes to prove his critics wrong at Real Madrid.
The Welsh forward left Spurs in the summer of 2013 for a world record fee £85.3million.
Despite a strong debut season where he clinched the Copa del Rey and the Champions League, the 25-year-old has struggled for form this term.
Bale came under some heavy criticism for another disappointing display last night as Carlo Ancelotti’s side were knocked out of the Champions League by Juventus.
It is not easy to play for Real Madrid and it is not easy to settle from the first moment
Mauricio Pochettino
But Pochettino has backed Bale to turn things around at the La Liga giants, insisting he is still getting settled.
“It is difficult to analyse him because the expectation at Real Madrid maybe is different to another club,” Pochettino said.
“It is not easy to play for Real Madrid. Now they have no possibility to win La Liga, the Champions League or Copa del Rey and if you spend money like Real Madrid and have no silverware at the end of the season then it is very difficult.
“But I think that Gareth Bale is not the player that is only responsible for that happening at Real Madrid.
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Mauricio Pochettino backs Gareth Bale to turn it around at Real Madrid
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“I think that Gareth Bale is an unbelievable player but sometimes it is not easy to score 30 or 40 goals every season.
When asked whether he’d consider taking him back on loan, Pochettino replied with a smile: “Bale needs to feel that the team plays for him like Ronaldo or Messi.
“They are a type of player that need to feel the confidence and trust and they are playing a way they want to play.
“It is not easy at Madrid when you have Bale, Benzema and Ronaldo – big stars - and it is not easy to settle from the first moment."