Will Gareth Bale play against West Ham? Welshman set for 2nd debut as Mourinho hints at using him on the right
The only question on Tottenham Hotspur fans had ahead of their fixture against West Ham on Sunday (October 18). The answer they received was typical Jose Mourinho— Part clear, part cryptic. Following a knee injury, Bale is set to make his second debut for the Spurs and the Portuguese manager said Bale would "probably" play and added he would use him in the "right" should he take the field on Saturday.
Bale and Tottenham made headlines when the team went all out to bring back the prodigal son where he would earn $25 million (£20m) in wages and loan fees. Predominantly starting off as a left-winger, Bale has over time moved on to playing central positions and was instrumental for Real Madrid which acquired him for a whopping record of $1 billion (£85million) in 2013.
At Madrid, Bale played primarily on the right along with Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. According to Yahoo, when asked by Mourinho which his favorite position was, Bale replied he preferred the right. However, the gaffer implied he wouldn't always be used in that position. "One of the first questions in my first conversation with Gareth – because the team is the most important thing but the player is important too – was, ‘What’s your favorite position?’,” Mourinho said.
"I wanted to start from there and he answered me the question. Does that mean he will always be used in that position? No." he added. "Because the most important thing is the team, and he will play where the team needs him to play, but he was very clear by saying his favorite position is on the right. It’s not as a number 10, it’s not as a striker, it’s not anymore on the left side like he did in the first years of his career at Southampton and Tottenham. His favorite position now is on the right side.
While there was much criticism over Bale's performance over recent years, Mourinho was not overly concerned. “When he reaches his continuity and when he reaches his normal intensity and dynamic, I think he can be the player people saw being decisive when he went to Real Madrid, in a very similar position. His period in exile at Madrid was questioned time and again, however, should he play on Sunday, Bale has an opportunity to silence his critics.
Bale's speed is his advantage and was one of the traits that made him suitable for the role of a left-winger. His close ball control, heading ability, and agility were some of the skills that benefited the Spurs and Madrid. The knuckleball technique was frequently employed by the Welshman.
According to former Liverpool player and BBC Sport football expert Mark Lawrenson, Bale's pace was his power. "What makes Gareth Bale so special? Simple. He is one of the quickest players I've ever seen, but he has another gear and the ability to find that extra pace within the next stride. He has the ability to perform and use his technique at a great pace," he said in 2011.
Will Bale make a mark for the Spurs on Sunday?
Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham starts at 11:30 AM ET on Sunday, October 18, 2020. The game can be watched live on NBCSN.