Chris Coleman believes that Gareth Bale’s form at Tottenham Hotspur might come down to a lack of confidence.
Despite Jose Mourinho warning people that he won’t be the same player that set the Premier League alight during the latter days of his first spell, that hasn’t stopped there being plenty of criticism coming the Welshman’s way for his poor return this season.
And his former head coach for Wales Coleman, as heard on the Sky Sports Football Podcast (49:20), thinks that it could simply be a lack of confidence from not being selected that is causing his lack of return:
“Maybe it is a confidence thing. Remember the Premier League’s tougher than La Liga, week in and week out. The intensity is different. The physicality is different. Maybe he just hasn’t found that yet.
“Maybe if he had two, three or four games, we’d see a bit, something a bit different. He’s not getting that. Because he’s obviously not back into that level where we expected them to be. And maybe that is a lack of confidence.”
Should Spurs prolong Bale's stay?
YES
NO
TIF Thoughts on Chris Coleman’s comments about Gareth Bale
Coleman’s comments really paint a ‘chicken and egg’ sort of scenario. Which is going to come first, him getting a decent run in the first-team which will give him more opportunities to score? Or him putting in a good enough display when he gets given a small chance in order to convince Mourinho to give him a sustained run?
With Harry Kane returning from his injury, sadly it looks likely those opportunities are going to be all the more limited going forward. So unless the club go through another injury scare, it looks as if it’s going to be down to him to put in his best whenever he’s called upon. He might only get one chance in those limited minutes, but if he wants to get more minutes, then he’s going to have to take it.