Gareth Bale insisted he is ‘feeling good’ and ‘happy’ with caretaker manager Ryan Mason’s new attacking ethos after scoring a hat-trick in Tottenham’s 4-0 win over Sheffield United.
Delivering arguably his best performance since returning to White Hart Lane on loan in the summer, Bale was part of a revamped Tottenham front line, which saw him, Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son, Dele Alli and Giovani Lo Celso all start, with just Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg playing the defensive midfield role.
Asked what about Mason’s attacking tactics made him happy, Bale told Sky Sports: ‘(It’s) the fact that we’re more on the front foot, we’re closer to the goal and you’re able to score more.
‘We’ve been working on that now for the last few weeks. It’s obviously not going to happen overnight but I feel like we’re taking a step in the right direction.
‘We’re playing football the Tottenham way.’
Bale’s comments could be interpreted as a cheeky dig at former manager Jose Mourinho, with whom the Welshman endured a difficult relationship. The Portuguese was sacked in part due to the tediously defensive football he insisted Spurs play.
Mourinho used Bale sparingly, at times suggesting his fitness was a problem, but he completed 75 minutes with apparent ease against the Blades on Sunday.
‘I feel good, as I’ve said before I just needed to play games, to get a run of games and I’m doing that now,’ Bale said.
‘I’m happy and when I’m happy I normally play well.
‘It was a great performance from the first whistle. I feel like we were on the font foot and we pressed well, got hold of the ball, played some good football. It’s always nice to get another (hat-trick) ball.
‘You have to take your chances when they come, and I had a few tonight.
‘Winning always makes everyone happy, it gives a winning mentality to the dressing room. That’s all we can do.’
COMMENTS