Inter destroyer Bale ‘even better now’

Andre Villas-Boas has warned Inter Milan that Gareth Bale is now even more capable of wreaking havoc against them than when he tore them apart the last time around.

Bale caught the world’s attention in October 2010 when he scored a hat-trick at the San Siro in a 4-3 defeat and then went on to make a mockery of Brazil right-back Maicon when Inter went down 3-1 to Spurs in the reverse fixture the following month.

Bale has scored 20 goals for Spurs this season — comfortably his best return as a professional — and his manager thinks the Welshman is primed to cause yet more damage to Inter when the two teams lock horns in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie at White Hart Lane tonight (8.05pm).