Gareth Bale's absence from the Tottenham squad against Everton is shrouded in confusion tonight.
Manager Jose Mourinho claimed the Welshman had some "feelings he was unhappy with" after training and so was left out.
"Gareth is not on the bench because he wasn't happy with his training session yesterday," Mourinho told BT Sport prior to the FA Cup thriller at Goodison Park.
"I wouldn't say an injury, not at all, but some feelings he wasn't happy with.
"So it was better for him to stay back and to be working with the sports science guys."
That explanation appears to directly contradict an Instagram post Bale published 24 hours earlier, with the 31-year-old telling fans he had enjoyed a "good session" on Tuesday.
Bale's omission has left many Spurs fans confused, and Mourinho's efforts to explain the situation will only deepen those feelings.
Earlier this week, former Wales boss Chris Coleman urged people not to write Bale off just yet despite his complete failure to ignite since returning from Real Madrid.
"He's been out for a long time and he's finding it hard to get back in and get his rhythm," Coleman said on Monday Night Football.
"We all know what a world-class player he is. He can win a game, he can score a goal from nothing, he's got a last pass.
"But when I'm watching him now it looks like he's always on his first game back after an injury. Obviously, we expected him to be in the flow of it by now but he clearly isn't.
"He's only 31 so I wouldn't write him off. I don't know what's happened at Tottenham but knowing Gareth, he's a very serious boy about his football and he loves playing football."
