Jose Mourinho hails Gareth Bale impact as Tottenham’s attack catches fire
Gareth Bale celebrates with Harry Kane, Lucas Moura and Son Heung-Min
Jose Mourinho has lauded Gareth Bale’s impact and Tottenham’s attack overall after dispatching Crystal Palace 4-1 to jump up to sixth in the Premier League table in a boost to their hopes of a top four finish.
Gareth Bale and Harry Kane both struck twice at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a result that puts Mourinho’s side in the thick of it when it comes to the race to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Mourinho’s side are put together a fine run of results as others have collapsed around them following their fifth successive win in all competitions, including three straight victories in the league, with Mourinho delighted by the surge in form from his attacking talent.
Mourinho said: “We have very good attacking players and they allow me to do what I did today which was Dele Alli, who played really well against Fulham, to leave him out for Lucas (Moura) this time.
READ MORE: Hugo Lloris praises ‘professional’ way Dele Alli has earned his place back at Tottenham
“Sonny, Gareth, Kane and then (Erik) Lamela comes and comes well and (Steven) Bergwijn didn’t even come. Tanguy (Ndombele) stayed on the bench.
“We are a team with a lot of talent in this area but this Gareth is an extra for us and a plus.
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“This Gareth didn’t start the season, this Gareth is playing this way for a couple of months and of course the quality is amazing. He is a fantastic player.”
Kane’s second in the 76th minute was assisted by Son Heung-min and it was the 14th goal combination by the pair in the Premier League this season.
It beat the previous record of 13 set by Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton for Blackburn in the 1994-95 campaign.
On Kane, who grabbed his 24th goal of the season, Mourinho added: “He is there with the best. I wouldn’t change him for anyone in this club because he means so much for us and he is a fantastic player.”
Tottenham are up to sixth and two points off fourth-placed Chelsea in the race for the top four with the Blues, West Ham and Everton in action on Monday.
“I cannot control the results of other teams, I cannot control what will happen with West Ham vs Leeds and Chelsea vs Everton,” Mourinho insisted.
“We just have to try to get the best number of points that we can and try to win the more matches we can. If possible playing well, if possible scoring goals and if possible not conceding many and try to see what can happen.
“I don’t forget the Europa League, I refuse to forget or just to say Thursday is not important because for me it is important. The cup final is there waiting for us but still a couple of months.
“We just have to work hard, to stick together, to go through the difficult moments like we did already and try to enjoy the good moments but enjoy in a soft way because we know how different it is going to be for us next.
“For us next in the Premier League it is Arsenal away, Aston Villa away and Newcastle away so this is what is waiting for us around the corner and try to be happy when we can.
“Today we can after three victories in the same week and if the stats I was given are correct, 100 goals scored in the season which for a very defensive team, a very negative team is not bad.”
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson saw their three-match unbeaten run end with a heavy defeat, but paid tribute to England captain Kane.
“I think Harry has improved enormously over the years but that is not surprising,” he said.
“You must remember in 2016, which is five years ago, a lot of these guys were already stars, him and Dele Alli.
“And Harry has added further strings to his bow because he is capable of playing in this retreating centre forward position where when he gets there and gets on the ball, he is capable of producing very good passes.
“The thing that killed us off tonight I suppose was the fantastic strike for the third goal.”
PA
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