Gareth Bale aims ANOTHER dig at Jose Mourinho after netting a hat-trick against Sheffield United, as he insists: ‘We’re closer to the goal and able to score more… we’re playing football the Tottenham way’
- Gareth Bale said he ‘feels good’ and is ‘happy’ with Tottenham’s attacking style
- The Welshman scored a hat-trick in Spurs’ 4-0 victory over Sheffield United
- Bale cheekily pointed out being ‘closer to the goal’ means ‘you can score more’
- The comment stands in contrast to Jose Mourinho’s highly defensive tactics
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.
Gareth Bale (right) is ‘happy’ with Tottenham’s new attacking style after scoring a hat-trick
Bale put three past Sheffield United and said that being closer to goal helps with scoring
‘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.
Bale said under caretaker boss Ryan Mason (right) the club are ‘playing the Tottenham way’
Bale had a difficult relationship with former Spurs boss Jose Mourinho, who did not play him
‘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.’