Jose Mourinho warns Europe ‘remarkable’ Gareth Bale is ready to explode with Spurs hero to be unleashed on LASK
JOSE MOURINHO has warned Europe the real Gareth Bale is coming.
Tonight, the Tottenham boss will hand the Wales superstar his second start since rejoining the club on loan from Real Madrid.
Bale, 31, started the north Londoners’ 3-0 win at home to Austrians LASK in last Thursday’s Europa League Group J opener.
And ahead of their clash with Royal Antwerp in Belgium, Mourinho revealed: “Bale is playing. I can see it with my eyes and the scientific data is also telling us he is working very well and improving a lot.
“He’s working very hard and has been a great example for everybody.
“A big guy like him travelled to Burnley on Monday, stayed on the bench for 90 minutes and his behaviour as a team guy has been incredible.
“His behaviour as a Tottenham man is remarkable.
“We will see he is already at a good level and, hopefully, he can fly.”
Defenders Eric Dier and Japhet Tanganga have not travelled with the squad following their recent injuries.
Striker Son Heung-min, who scored the only goal in the 1-0 win at Burnley, has travelled after signing a deal with the same agency which represents Mourinho.
Most read in Football
But the Spurs boss denied it will lead to a conflict of interest with the South Korean, who is set to talk with chairman Daniel Levy about a new contract.
Mourinho added: “I don’t care who represents players, I just care about what players give me on the pitch.
“In relation to his contract, I am not worried about it because he has three years remaining.
“I am sure sooner or later that will be resolved.”
Antwerp also won their first match in Group J, beating Ludogorets 2-1 away.
And Mourinho admitted: “This will be our toughest match of the group phase.”