Bale: I tried to make things tick

21 December 2013 08:17

Gareth Bale has indicated that he felt a need to be the main man at Tottenham, saying he tried to "make everything tick".

The Wales international's stunning form for Spurs earned him an £86million summer move to Real Madrid which his old club do not appear to have recovered from.

Despite reinvesting the money they got for the forward, Spurs are struggling for form and have sacked manager Andre Villas-Boas.

The goals of Bale - 26 in total - helped the Portuguese rebuild his reputation last season after losing his job at Chelsea, but without the 24-year-old this time around, the flowing football dried up.

But Bale has continued to impress in Madrid after a slow start and on Saturday admitted to enjoying sharing the responsibility with his fellow players.

"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 told the Daily Telegraph of his Madrid team-mates.

"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's words come as his old club continue their search for a replacement for Villas-Boas.

Tim Sherwood - a backroom coach during Bale's time - is currently in charge and has received backing from old Spurs manager Harry Redknapp.

The ex-Blackburn captain wants the job and is hoping chairman Daniel Levy will give him the chance, for he does not fancy serving under someone else.

"That isn't me to be honest, I wouldn't want to do that," he said when asked about assisting another manager.

"I don't think Daniel is linking them [other names], it is the press who are putting the names there.

"They are all good managers and we have had good managers at this club, sometimes it has got to fit, the club and the manager have to be compatible.

"It is not always about the biggest name, he may have done well at another club but it doesn't mean he is going to do well at this one.

"It is up to the chairman and the board to make the correct decision which is right for the long-term future of this club, it isn't good to keep changing managers.

"I know all about the football club, I played here and it is my club. I know what the supporters want and what they demand but it is not my decision to make the appointment."

Source: PA