‘It’s his evolution’ – Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho explains Gareth Bale and Dele Alli absences from starting XI against West Ham

Jose Mourinho says Gareth Bale is not yet ready to play two games in three days after the Portuguese left the Wales man on the bench for Tottenham’s game against West Ham.

Mourinho had hinted that after Bale’s goalscoring performance in the Europa League against Wolfsberger AC on Thursday that he would look to use the Welshman against the Hammers.

He took the 31-year-old off after an hour in order to preserve him, he said, after the 4-1 win.

“One of the reasons why he left the pitch by minute 64 was to try to have him available for the next match,” Mourinho told BT Sport on Thursday.

“By taking him off at that minute we managed to save him a few miles in his legs. I know the match is Sunday at 12 o’clock but I believe he has a chance to play the match.

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An Edinson Cavani moment and the return of the Chelsea man – Birmingham City talking points

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“For him it was important to play and not to play the 90 minutes.”

But Mourinho resisted the urge to start Bale and team-mate Dele Alli against the east Londoners and explained why to Sky Sports before the match.

“He’s (Bale) not yet ready to start two matches in three days,” he said.

“The same as Dele, for different reasons.

“Dele because he was injured and out of the team for more than a month, not even training.

“Gareth is it his evolution, part of his evolution.

“No doubt that the performance was good, and no doubt that I believe that sooner rather than later, he will be able to play more than he is now.”