Dean Ashton said on talkSPORT (1:56pm, February 21, 2021) that Tottenham Hotspur head coach Jose Mourinho should have included Gareth Bale in the starting lineup against West Ham United.
Bale, on loan from Real Madrid, came on as a substitute at the start of the second half during Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham at London Stadium on Sunday.
The Wales international winger played well for Spurs in the Europa League on Thursday evening, and many fans would have wanted him to start against the Hammers.
The 31-year-old had a very good 45 minutes against West Ham. Bale provided the assist for Lucas Moura’s goal and was unlucky when his superb effort hit the Hammers’ crossbar.
Former West Ham striker Ashton, who now works as a pundit for talkSPORT, believes that Mourinho should have included Bale from the start against West Ham.
Ashton said on talkSPORT (1:56pm, February 21, 2021): “I think it was clear that Bale played great in midweek and should have started to give them that threat on the right-hand side. He was absolutely brilliant in the second half, Gareth Bale.”
Big mistake from Jose Mourinho?
Given Bale’s encouraging performance on Thursday evening, it did not come as a surprise that he played so well against West Ham in the second half.
The winger seems to be high on confidence and is starting to get his mojo back.
Mourinho should have tapped into that and should have included the Madrid-owned winger in the starting lineup.
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