Real Madrid: It’s time to unleash an angry Gareth Bale on the pitch

Real Madrid right winger Gareth Bale must be frustrated with the reactions he’s receiving from the fans and the media, but that could make him a scarier player on the pitch for opposition defenses.

At a recent press conference for Wales, Gareth Bale told reporters he is playing with “anger” due to the speculation around his future at Real Madrid. And perhaps Real can benefit from unleashing Bale’s frustrations on the pitch.

Bale, for all the media criticism and whistling from the fans, is still one of the most talented wingers in the world. He can go from 0 to 60 with a burst of acceleration that envies any attacker in world football, even at the age of 30. Bale’s finishing and technical quality are sharp, and nobody who watches him for Real or Wales would question his work ethic defensively.

Zinedine Zidane is known as one of the best man-managers in football and commands the respect of everyone on the team. Publicly, he’s shown a great deal of support for Bale amidst this adversity, and, as a fellow club legend, has urged fans to stop booing the forward.

Since Zidane is so adept at connecting with players, perhaps he can coax the anger in Bale on the pitch and harness Bale’s frustrations into world-class attacking football. Bale, for example, looked timid against Alaves before being subbed off. He made great runs off the ball and worked hard for his team, but there was something lacking in his intensity – Zidane’s favorite word – and sharpness.

Are the criticisms and doubts weighing on Bale’s mind and preventing him from playing as risky? If so, Zidane should be sure to alleviate those internal concerns and tell Bale that he should feel supported by his manager to play his brand of football.

Bale has not recorded more than one shot or dribbled completed in any La Liga match since October. He’s had a wonderful outside-the-boot assist and played strong defense on the wing, but the attacking intent has been less pronounced.

Some players bring an extra layer of intensity when faced with doubters, and Bale did turn boos into cheers in his latest La Liga appearance at the Santiago Bernabeu last week against Real Sociedad. The Wales international showed Madridistas his quality and reminded them that he has something left to give in 2019-2020.

A winter transfer is unlikely, and in order for Bale to land at a club like Spurs or United in the summer, he’ll need to be at his best. And as impressive as Rodrygo has been in his rookie season for Real, Zidane knows his club needs Bale at his best in order to win all the titles they possibly can.

So it’s time for Real Madrid to unleash Gareth Bale. His anger, frustrations, and intensity can be translated into world-class performance on the pitch, and it’s up to Zidane and his teammates to help Bale reach a comfort level where he can flip that switch when he takes the field. Bale could still prove to be an X-Factor for this talented Real Madrid side that is missing the goal-scoring quality that Bale can bring to the table when he’s at his best.