Mourinho says injury woes left mental scar on Bale
Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho said Gareth Bale has recovered from the “psychological scars” of previous injuries after the forward fired Spurs to a 4-1 win over Crystal Palace.
Bale and Harry Kane struck two goals each on Sunday to help Spurs move into sixth spot in the Premier League on 45 points after 27 games, two points adrift of Chelsea in fourth.
Bale rejoined Spurs from Real Madrid on season-long loan in September after enduring his worst spell in Spain in 2019-20 with three goals in total.
The Welshman had a slow start to life back at Spurs due to a knee problem and a lack of first-team football but has rediscovered his form with six goals in past six games for the club.
“I found psychological scars,” Mourinho said. “When you have a couple of seasons with lots of injuries I think it is not about the muscular scars but the psychological scars – that brings fears and instability.
“There is a moment when you are working very well and everyone around you is giving everything we can give, there is a moment where that psychological barrier has to be broken. And he broke it. It was him, not us. We just supported him.”
Spurs host Dinamo Zagreb in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday before visiting Arsenal for the north London derby on Sunday.
Their latest win has ignited their hopes that a top-four finish is possible this season. “Going into next week’s game we have confidence behind us now but we know it’s going to be difficult,” Bale said.
“Obviously, a midweek game [against Zagreb] before that but we’ll recover and go again.”
Given Bale has started three games in a row, it is likely the Welshman will be on the bench for against the Croatian outfit.
He talked up the overall attacking quality in the squad after the triumph over Palace while Dele Alli, Steven Bergwijn, Tanguy Ndombele, Erik Lamela and Carlos Vinicius were all on the bench.
“All the players, not just the ones playing but the ones on the bench, are all great players and we have to keep working hard and putting in performances to stay in the team,” Bale said.
A Christian Benteke leveller on the stroke of half time threatened to spoil proceedings for the hosts, but Bale completed his brace in the 49th minute before Kane produced a stunning effort three minutes later.
Maybe it was the best thing for that to happen,” Bale admitted regarding the equaliser. “It kind of kick-started us again in the second half and we were going, attacking and pressing them high. I think it was the catalyst for us to really kick on and dominate the game.”