Mourinho “surprised” by Bale injury on Monday, with the Welshman not having played on Sunday

After a thrilling mid-week FA Cup match with Everton, Jose Mourinho was asked why Real Madrid loanee, Gareth Bale, was not part of the squad. The Spurs manager admitted that he was “surprised” by a new niggling injury for the winger.

“I think it is better for me to say: we played against West Brom on the Sunday and he didn’t play, he was on the bench,” Mourinho told reporters. “Monday I was a bit surprised by him wanting to have a scan because he was not feeling comfortable. He didn’t train on Monday and then on the Tuesday he trained with the team, but I was informed his desire would be to work with the sports science for a couple of days to strengthen that area where he was not feeling comfortable.”

“That is the reason why he is not here. I don’t think it is an obvious injury, I would say he feels uncomfortable and because of that training session he could not be 100 per cent,” Mourinho explained.

Bale’s fairy-tale return to Tottenham Hotspur has not gone as intended. The Welshman has been unable to rediscover his old form and has failed to break into the starting XI. Bale has featured very little in the Premier League this season, just six matches totaling 220 minutes and a lone goal to show for his efforts.

Real Madrid will more than likely have to accept the return of Gareth Bale this summer given his contract does not run out until 2022. Bale is the highest earner in the Real Madrid squad and his diminished role within European Football makes him a difficult asset to sell. A solution for all parties will need to be found in the summer.