Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale hopes for central role after sinking Tottenham

Posted Wednesday, August 05, 2015 by theguardian.com

Gareth Bale is confident that he will score goals and lead Real Madrid to trophies this season, if Rafael Benitez continues to play him in a central attacking role.

Benitez used the Wales forward as one of his strikers in a 4-4-2 formation against Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday evening, and he watched him score a late goal in Real’s 2-0 win here at the Audi Cup. Bale also went close in the first half against his former club with a header from James Rodriguez ’s free-kick that flashed past the post.

Bale was generally used on or off the right by Carlo Ancelotti during his first two seasons at Real but he is convinced that he plays his best football in the central role, which he also occupies for Wales. He says that he has spoken to Benitez, the new Real manager, about being used in the position and he is optimistic about the season ahead.

''It’s my best position,” Bale said. “When I played for Tottenham, I felt I played my best football there and when I play for Wales, I play there and play my best football. For me, that’s my position and it’s where I want to play.

''I’m able to go out to the left and the right, and it’s what I was doing at Tottenham and what I do for Wales. It’s great to have the support of the manager and the president [Florentino Perez] and, hopefully, I can repay them with some goals and trophies.”

Bale left Tottenham for Real in the summer of 2013 for a world record £86m, having spent six years at White Hart Lane and he said that it felt “weird” to play against them. Real and Tottenham are staying at the same hotel in Munich, and Bale said that he had been able to catch up with some of his ex-teammates.

''When you play against your former team, it’s always a little bit weird but it’s a pre-season game and the main thing for us was fitness,” Bale said. “We only came back from Australia and China a few days ago and we had three days off, so coming into this was a bit difficult but it was good to get the win and it was nice to score.

''There are some familiar faces in the Tottenham squad but there has also been a lot of change. I know a few of the players who are staying in the same hotel so it’s been nice to catch up with everybody. Hopefully, they will do well this season.

''They play some great stuff. They are a bit weary. They have got their first Premier League game this weekend so they are preparing for that. Hopefully, they can do well and qualify for the Champions League.”