Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale: I tried to make “everything tick” at Tottenham

Gareth Bale

Former Tottenham winger Gareth Bale had admitted that he tried too hard to be the main playmaker at Spurs and is now more happy to spread the workload around at Real Madrid.

The Welshman was a revelation last season and left the club to sign for the Spanish giants in a record-breaking £86 million transfer.

Spurs have struggled this season in Bale’s absence and the poor results have seen Andre Villas-Boas lose his job. He felt like he had to take responsibility of chance creation at Spurs but is more relieved to let others help out at Madrid.

“They lead by example. If you ever want to talk to them, they’re always there to listen. It’s great to play alongside them because they’re world-class players too,” he said.

“At Tottenham, I was always trying to get onto the ball and make everything tick, whereas here everybody’s doing that, there are world-class players all around the pitch and you’re able to concentrate just on your game rather than bringing the whole team forward, and I’m enjoying that.”

Bale scored two of Real Madrid’s 20 goals as they made a red-hot start to their Champions League campaign.

The Spanish giants will be expected to beat Schalke in the knockout stages, but Bale played down the expectations as they attempt to win their 10th title.

“I wouldn’t say it’s pressure,” he said. “The fact it’s the 10th title will be special for the club but for everybody at the club, the players, the staff, we want to win the Champions League because we want to win every trophy we’re playing in.”

Bale has scored seven goals in 10 La Liga appearances this season, including one hat-trick.