Jose Mourinho has revealed to BBC Sport that he told Tottenham Hotspur’s Gareth Bale that he needed to ask to come off before ‘fatigue arrived’ yesterday.
Bale was handed just his fourth Premier League start for Tottenham since his return, and he produced his best performance of his second spell with the North London club.
Bale scored twice and claimed an assist as Spurs cruised to a 4-0 victory over Burnley.
The Welshman appeared to be back to a level which was close to his best, as he ripped apart Sean Dyche’s side’s defence.
But Mourinho says that he still wanted Bale to be cautious, as his fitness isn’t quite optimum yet.
“He handled himself well, we are all doing that together, him, me and my staff and medical and sport science we’re all in it together,” Mourinho said.
“We said to him don’t let the fatigue arrive so you have to go off before the fatigue comes and we did that so of course we are managing him.
“We left him on the bench in the Europa League thinking that today he could be important and can’t play two matches in a short space of time. His experience helps a lot.”
Mourinho will understandably be determined to keep Bale fit now that he seems to have some momentum on his side.
The Welshman has contributed with four goals in his last four appearances for Tottenham and there is now hope that his return could yet be a success.
If Bale can rekindle his top form between now and the end of the campaign there is still plenty to play for at Tottenham.
Mourinho’s side still have ambitions of breaking into the top four in the Premier League, while they remain in with a chance of lifting both the League Cup and the Europa League.
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