SPANISH TAUNT BALE:YOU’RE STILL CURSED

GARETH BALE might get an early chance to prevent his “Tottenham curse” returning.

Spurs boss Jose Mourinho could start with Bale in their Europa League tie with LASK on Thursday after he was a substitute against West Ham on Sunday.

It was an unhappy return for Bale as his side were 3-0 up when he came on – and ended up drawing 3-3.

That led to the Spanish press, still obsessed with the on-loan Real Madrid star, reviving the idea of the curse which plagued his first spell at the club.

After he joined Spurs, they failed to win any of the first 24 Premier League games he played in – leading people to talk about “The curse of Gareth Bale.”

Spanish papers AS and

Marca both wrote big pieces about Bale’s second debut for Tottenham – and both put the boot in.

Bale has had a love-hate relationship with the Spanish media despite his hugely successful time at Real Madrid, during which he has won multiple Champions League and La Liga titles.

One piece in AS said Bale “ended up costing his team two points”, and added: “Nothing is the same for Gareth Bale any more.” But Bale will be eased back gradually as Mourinho (below) manages his squad. The manager is also inclined to be careful bearing in mind the Wales superstar’s recent injury record.

However, the Europa League could present the perfect opportunity to get his match fitness back and help him gear up to form a lethal front three with Harry Kane and Heung-min Son.

Mourinho explained: “The decision not to start him against West Ham was, I think, a good decision. A decision to show that he doesn’t have a beautiful chair waiting for him in the team and he sits there the first time he can.

“It was a message to the players that in this team everybody has to fight for positions.”