Tottenham Hotspur head coach Jose Mourinho has explained why he did not include Gareth Bale in the starting lineup against West Ham United on Sunday, as quoted in The Express.
Bale came off the substitutes’ bench at the start of the second half for Tottenham in the London derby against West Ham.
The Wales international winger, on loan from Real Madrid, provided the assist for Lucas Moura’s goal and had an effort come back off the crossbar.
Spurs lost the Premier League game at London Stadium 2-1, and after the match, Mourinho explained why Bale did not start despite playing well in the Europa League on Thursday evening, stating that it would have been a risk to start him.
The Express quotes Mourinho as saying about Bale: “The quality is there. Nobody can have doubts of that. The condition to play three matches in a week is a different story. We have to try to get the best out of him.
“We gave him 65 minutes the other day not 90. To start today would be too much for him and a risk. He is more confident. He is starting to be more intense. He was good in the second half.”
Gareth Bale needs a run of games
Bale has now performed well in two successive matches, and it is time that the 31-year-old is given a run of games.
The Wales international winger cannot be expected to come off the bench and make impact when he is not playing regularly.
No footballer can be expected to do that, and if Mourinho wants to see the best of Bale in the coming weeks and months, then he has to show more faith in him.
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