Bale: “This is the perfect fit”

Ten years to the week where he announced his name on the world stage, Gareth Bale is back - and loving life again in a Spurs shirt.

It’s safe to say 20 October, 2010, is a date the Welsh star will never forget. Trailing holders Inter 4-0 at half-time in the San Siro, down to 10 men, Gareth produced one of the all-time great Champions League displays with a hat-trick in the second half as we lost 4-3, and almost rescued a point. Two weeks later, he was arguably even better as we won 3-1 at the Lane.

“One of my friends told me (about it being 10 years ago) the other day and I just said, ‘oh my God...’” said Gareth. “Time flies, but we have to look to the future now, look to this season, and we’re all excited.”

After moving to Real Madrid in 2013 and winning the lot, Gareth returned on a season-long loan last month, worked hard getting back to full fitness and made his return this week, coming off the bench against West Ham in the Premier League on Sunday and making his ‘second’ full debut in our 3-0 win against LASK in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Gareth set up our second goal in a 62-minute stint as we took our tally to 31 goals in 10 matches so far this season.

Lucas Moura converted from a wonderful assist from debutant Carlos Vinicius, who later capped his first appearance with a second assist for Heung-Min Son.

It was pointed out to Gareth what a joy it must be to play in this team at the moment. “Yes, and it’s one of the reasons I wanted to come,” he said. “I know how good the squad is, the team is, the manager is and I know how great the Club is, so it was a perfect fit for me to come back and I’m enjoying myself.

“I’m loving it here and now it’s about trying to knuckle down, get the team winning and see where it takes us.

“It’s one of those adaptation periods where I can keep working hard in training, in games and once those match minutes are under my belt, I’ll be sharper, better and contributing more to the team.”

Gareth post-LASK