More to come from Gareth Bale, says Sky Sports pundit Terry Gibson
Wednesday 5 October 2016 05:55, UK
There’s more to come this season from Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale, according to Sky Sports’ Spanish football expert Terry Gibson.
Real Madrid's stuttering form has seen them draw four successive games in all competitions and Zinedine Zidane has come in for criticism for his side's lacklustre performances.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema have also been questioned in recent weeks but Bale, who has scored three goals so far this season, has been let off any criticism in the press and from the supporters.
Bale scored his 50th La Liga in Real's 1-1 draw with Eibar and Gibson, speaking on La Liga Weekly, thinks the Welshman, despite not being at his absolute best, is now an integral part of Real Madrid's side
"Bale has actually been exempt from the criticism," Gisbon said.
"Cristiano Ronaldo's had some criticism from the press and the supporters as has Karim Benzema, but Bale's performances haven't merited any criticism.
"He's been okay. I don't think he's been at this best but for me he's another example of one of those players trying to find full fitness after a tough summer.
"He's become a really important player for Real Madrid, and rightly so, but I still think there's more to come from Gareth Bale this season."
After Real's run of four straight draws Zidane's approach has been called into question and Gibson thinks the Frenchman has made a mistake in recent weeks by starting Alvaro Morata on the bench.
"People are asking a lot of questions about what Zidane is trying to achieve with Real Madrid's identity," Gibson added. "I think he made an error last week when he said if Benzema, Bale and Ronaldo are all fit they will always play because that's hard on Alvaro Morata.
"In my opinion, he deserves a starting spot this season which would allow Benzema the chance to get fully fit and match sharp for the rest of the season. That hasn't happened. Benzema has missed a few games and was rushed straight back into the team, particularly for big games, at the expense of leaving Morata out.
"Morata himself wasn't great on Sunday and that's because he's probably lost a bit of confidence and momentum. So that's the mistake he's made because he has to build his time around the front three now he's said they will play if fit."
