Mourinho Says ‘Different’ Bale Is Ready to Make Tottenham Return

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho has said Gareth Bale is likely to make his second debut for the club against West Ham, adding that the Welsh forward already appears happier after returning to north London.

Bale rejoined Tottenham on a season-long loan from Real Madrid after seven years in Spain, while defender Sergio Reguilon also moved from Madrid to Spurs.

Mourinho said Reguilon had noticed a clear change in Bale’s mood since the move.

“It’s great to hear from Sergio that Gareth looks a different guy,” Mourinho said. “If he’s happy with us and then goes home and can share that happiness with family.”

The Portuguese coach added that Bale needed regular football to rediscover the level that made him one of Europe’s leading players.

“He needs football, he needs to feel a top player again,” Mourinho said.

Bale had spent the previous two weeks training after a knee injury delayed his return to action.

Mourinho explained that Tottenham did not want to rush him because he had played very little football over the previous year and had also missed a proper pre-season.

“Of course he wants to play,” Mourinho said. “He wanted to play since the day he arrived, but it was not possible.”

He added that Bale could feature against West Ham, although Tottenham’s Europa League fixture later in the week remained another possibility.

“Probably he plays Sunday, if not it is Thursday, but he’s there,” Mourinho said.

The Tottenham manager also confirmed that Harry Kane would start against West Ham, with new signing Carlos Vinicius expected to be among the substitutes.

Mourinho praised Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy and the club’s board for their transfer business after Spurs added Bale, Reguilon, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Matt Doherty, Joe Hart and Vinicius to the squad.

He described Levy as a “genius” in transfer negotiations and thanked the club for strengthening the team despite the financial difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Mourinho also responded to Arsene Wenger’s decision not to include him prominently in his new book, joking that the former Arsenal manager had little reason to write about their rivalry because of his poor record against him.