‘Good question but you don’t deserve an answer’: Frustrated Jose Mourinho snaps after being asked by TV reporter why he left Gareth Bale on the bench AGAIN as Tottenham slumped to another defeat against rivals Chelsea
Jose Mourinho snapped at a TV reporter after she asked him to explain why he didn’t bring on Gareth Bale during Tottenham’s 1-0 defeat by Chelsea.
Spurs lacked a cutting edge without injured talisman Harry Kane and went behind to Jorginho’s 24th-minute penalty on Thursday night.
Mourinho turned to Erik Lamela and Lucas Moura as the home side chased the game, rather than Real Madrid loanee Bale, who was left unused.
Jose Mourinho snapped after a reporter asked him why he didn’t bring on Gareth Bale
Asked by journalist Alison Bender why he did not come on, he replied: ‘Good question. You do not deserve to know the answer.’
Quizzed about it again in his press conference he said: ‘I am trying my best. Gareth is trying his best. Everyone is trying their best.’
Bale is yet to establish himself as a regular starter under Mourinho since making an emotional return to north London last summer.
The Welshman has made 15 appearances in all competitions for Spurs this season but has only started twice in the Premier League.
He has scored four goals – one in each of the top-flight, Europa League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup – and is yet to register an assist in his second spell at Spurs.
Meanwhile, Mourinho says he can see a spirit in his squad despite suffering a third successive Premier League loss on Thursday night.
Mourinho turned to Erik Lamela and Lucas Moura rather than Real Madrid loanee Bale (left)
Spurs’ league season is imploding. Since travelling to Anfield at the summit on December 16 they have lost five of their next nine games, including three in a row for the first time since 2012.
They are suffering with injuries with the likes of Kane, Giovani Lo Celso and Dele Alli ruled out, but Mourinho insists he is seeing a togetherness in his squad.
‘We’re trying to go on the search but I saw togetherness. It’s not easy to see togetherness with bad results, defeats, difficulties, injuries,’ he said.
‘Togetherness is very easy to show when you’re on a high and winning matches, when everything is amazing.
‘But in difficult moments it’s more difficult to see that togetherness but I saw that in the second half. No doubts for me
