Mourinho says Bale’s social media post a ‘contradiction’

By: The Associated Press Posted: 11:50 AM CST Friday, Feb. 12, 2021 Last Modified: 11:51 AM CST Friday, Feb. 12, 2021

Advertise with us

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

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

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

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/02/2021 (2057 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

LONDON – 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 “contradiction.”

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

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)

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

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

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

“Probably 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: “Good 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 “didn’t show an injury.”

“We have a training session in the afternoon to see if he feels ready or not,” Mourinho said on Friday.

___

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports