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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Callum Vurley

Martin Keown suggests Gareth Bale is getting preferential treatment to Dele Alli at Tottenham

Martin Keown has suggested that Gareth Bale is getting preferential treatment over Dele Alli at Tottenham.

Spurs succumbed to a shock loss to Royal Antwerp in the Europa League after the Belgian minnows managed a 1-0 win over their more illustrious opponents.

Jose Mourinho was fuming with his team, making four subs at half-time - which included Alli being hauled off.

The Englishman has had a tough time under The Special One this campaign, being largely frozen out.

Thursday night was a chance for Alli to stamp his claim for a more regular spot but it ended in disaster.

However, Keown insisted that Bale had a shocker as well - but was spared the stern treatment dealt out to Alli.

Dele Alli was hauled off at half-time against Antwerp (Getty Images)

The ex-Arsenal defender criticised Mourinho, revealing that the Portuguese coach was not doing a good enough job of bringing everyone together.

He told BT Sport: "It's about keeping that group together, keeping everybody on board and giving everybody that healthy opportunity to get back into the team.

"When I see that sort of thing [Mourinho's Instagram post], I'm not sure that really exists.

"They've had some fantastic results, been to Old Trafford and won 6-1. the result against Burnley was really professional.

"Then all of a sudden he gets tough with the players, you want him on board but you need those squad players at some point.

Gareth Bale gets preferential treatment, says Martin Keown (Cath Ivill/POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

"Gareth Bale didn't do anything tonight. Nothing at all.

"But I'm not sure we're going to hear that.

"You might hear a little go at Dele Alli, or see it on Amazon, but we're not going to hear particularly about Gareth Bale.

"I think it should be equal for every single player and really Gareth Bale could have come off at half-time, for the performance we saw in the first half.

"But the manager wants a pathway for him. Maybe he doesn't want one for Dele Alli.

"But I think there should be a pathway for every player."

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