Zinedine Zidane and Mauricio Pochettino were giving little away when quizzed on the future of Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale after Tuesday’s Audi Cup encounter.
Harry Kane’s first-half goal was enough to settle the pre-season tie, and Tottenham will now face hosts Bayern Munich in tonight’s ‘final’.
One noticeable absentee from the match was Bale, who missed the game against his former employers following the collapse of his transfer to Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning.
Bale has been linked with an unlikely return to Spurs and Pochettino has been asked about it before, but the Tottenham boss was unwilling to comment further, while Zidane cited fitness issues as the reason behind Bale’s absence.
“I am not in charge and I know nothing about the situation of my players,” said Pochettino. “I am only coaching them and trying to get the best from them. Sell, buy players, sign contract, not sign contract – I think it is not in my hands, it’s in the club’s hands and [chairman] Daniel Levy.
“The club need to change my title and description. Of course I am the boss deciding the strategic play, but in another area I don’t know. Today, I feel like I am the coach.”
Zidane said on Bale: “He stayed training there. It’s a joint decision, made by the doctors and me, and I spoke with him, that’s all.”
