Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho has explained why he has rested Gareth Bale for tonight’s Europa League last-16 first leg against Dinamo Zagreb.
Mourinho has made seven changes from the side which beat Crystal Palace 4-1 on Sunday, with Bale dropped to the bench after three successive starts in the Premier League.
The Welsh forward joins Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Lucas Moura, Harry Winks, Toby Alderweireld, Matt Doherty and Sergio Reguilon in moving to Tottenham’s bench for the occasion.
Hugo Lloris, Harry Kane, Davinson Sanchez and Son Heung-min are the only players to retain their places, with Mourinho keeping one eye on Sunday’s north London derby against Arsenal.
Bale has been in excellent form recently, contributing six goals and three assists in his last six appearances, but Mourinho said the rotation was necessary to keep the 31-year-old fresh.
“We are. Not just me - me and him,” Mourinho replied when asked by BT Sport before kick-off whether he was managing Bale’s minutes.
“His feelings, the way he feels his body, so many matches that we have to play. Of course the second leg is more important than the first leg in the end.
“Arsenal away, Villa away, it’s too much, not just for Gareth, it’s too much for everyone, so we are managing a little bit.”
Following tonight’s last-16 first leg against Zagreb, Tottenham play the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium at 4.30pm on Sunday.
Mourinho’s side then face the away leg against the Croatian side on Thursday before an away trip to Birmingham to play Aston Villa on Sunday, March 21.
Bale was not the only one given a breather, with Eric Dier coming in for Alderweireld to partner Sanchez in central defence.
“Toby was playing three consecutive 90 minutes so 207 [minutes] in about a week,” Mourinho said.
“Dier is a good player - he is a player that we trust so we don’t see much in this change, it’s just a question of playing with a fresh player, also motivated of course.
“They want to play every game, and if he’s not playing in the Premier League for the last couple of matches then it is a good motivation for him tonight.”
Tottenham are seventh in the Premier League, five points adrift of the top four, after three straight wins against Burnley, Fulham and Crystal Palace.
