Mourinho says Bale's social media post a 'contradiction'

Posted February 12, 2021 6:00 am

The Associated Press

Tottenham's Gareth Bale warms up during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Bromwich Albion at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham,Â Pool) The Associated Press

LONDON (AP) - Call it a raised-eyebrow emoji by Jose Mourinho.

The Tottenham manager said Gareth Bale's recent Instagram post - an encouraging fitness update from the player complete with a flexed bicep emoji - was a 'œcontradiction.'ť

Bale missed the FA Cup game on Wednesday against Everton after reporting an unspecified injury.

Mourinho addressed Bale's status again on Friday, a day before Spurs visit English Premier League leader Manchester City.

'œI hope that the press conference is about the game and not about individuals," Mourinho began, 'œbut I have to admit that his post created a need of being addressed because (there) was a contradiction between the post and the reality.'ť

Mourinho added, 'œI try to be very private ... but I felt that I needed to address the situation.

'œProbably the post was not even his responsibility, I don't know. But the post was showing that '~training session great so I'm ready' and was totally wrong."

Bale's post said: 'œGood session today."

The Wales international's second spell at Tottenham has been underwhelming.

Bale has appeared in only six of Tottenham's 22 games in the Premier League after securing a season-long loan in September from Real Madrid, where he had become an outcast. Just two of those have been starts.

The manager said Bale asked for and received a scan, which 'œdidn't show an injury.'ť

'œWe have a training session in the afternoon to see if he feels ready or not,'ť Mourinho said on Friday.

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Tottenham's Gareth Bale sits in the stand watching the match after being substituted during an English Premier League soccer match between Brighton and Tottenham Hotspur at the Amex stadium in Brighton, England, Sunday Jan. 31, 2021. (Andrew Boyers/Pool via AP) The Associated Press

Tottenham's Gareth Bale, left walks past Tottenham's manager Jose Mourinho after being substituted during an English Premier League soccer match between Brighton and Tottenham Hotspur at the Amex stadium in Brighton, England, Sunday Jan. 31, 2021. (Andrew Boyers//Pool via AP) The Associated Press

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