Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho has told Football.London that Gareth Bale simply couldn’t come out for the second half against Stoke City.
Spurs travelled to the Potteries for a Carabao Cup semi-final clash on Wednesday evening, and took the lead when Bale headed home a Harry Winks cross.
However, Bale didn’t come out for the second half, and Stoke grabbed an equaliser with Jordan Thompson ghosting in at the back post to fire past Hugo Lloris.
Ben Davies and Harry Kane found the net to send Tottenham through with a 3-1 win though, teeing up a semi-final clash against Brentford.
Spurs fans will be delighted that Mourinho has taken them another step closer to a trophy win, but there will be concern over Bale.
The Welshman is yet to really get going in his second spell with Tottenham, as he seeks match sharpness and fitness following his September move from Real Madrid.
It seems unlikely that he will ever get back to anything like the player he was in his first spell with Tottenham, but the stop-start nature of his loan is giving him no chance.
Mourinho has now confirmed that Bale made the decision not to come out for the second half himself, seemingly nursing an injury – though the Spurs boss admitted he doesn’t know what is wrong with Bale.
“Yeah, was his decision,” said Mourinho. “Something he felt in the last part of the first half and he didn’t want to come out before the second half so he stayed. While he was walking to the dressing room he told me immediately that he couldn’t come for the second half.”
“I don’t know. Something I think with calf. I’m not sure as at that time I just want to reorganise the team and make the change,” he added when asked what the injury was.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
