The former Tottenham boss feels the Wales international
is only able to play his best football without the Portugal captain on the
pitch - the player he says has been 2013's best
Former Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas feels Real
Madrid star Gareth Bale has performed far better this season without Cristiano
Ronaldo in the side.
The 24-year-old delivered some exceptional displays for
los Blancos after initially struggling for fitness following his €100 million
summer move, notching nine goals and six assists in 15 games in all
competitions prior to the winter break.
However, Villas-Boas believes his one-time Tottenham
talisman has only been able to showcase his true potential when Ronaldo has not
been vying for the spotlight alongside the Welshman.
"Bale performs better without Ronaldo, he has a far
greater role in Madrid's play when Cristiano isn't playing," he told O
Jogo. "When there are two reference points like those two in the team, the
options end up being divided.
"At Tottenham Bale got used to playing a style of
football that offered him the chance of being the main man, that made him the
team's reference point. That's a natural consequence of a team recognising that
a player is in outstanding form. They receive the ball more and have more
chance of having an impact in the play. It also increases their
responsibility."
Villas-Boas went on to suggest Bale could be a future
Ballon d'Or winner, but only if he is able to hit the heights of his final
season with Tottenham whilst playing alongside 2013's standout performer
Ronaldo.
"He's already one of football's biggest players. The
question is whether he'll repeat his performances at Tottenham while he's
playing alongside the best player in the world in 2013," the former
Chelsea and Porto boss added.
Culled from Goal
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