Mourinho proves Real Madrid right over Bale

Jose Mourinho's Tottenham will be looking to continue their FA Cup progress against lowly Wycombe Wanderers on Monday. Gareth Bale was one of the topics of conversation at the pre-match press conference and, as always, Mourinho didn't mince his words.

The passing of the matchday has transformed the Portuguese's excitement at Bale's arrival into the same indifference the Welshman provoked at Real Madrid. Unwittingly, Mourinho has aligned himself with his former team.

On that note, the Tottenham boss was blunt with his protégé when it came to the possibility of him getting more minutes: "I can't gift minutes to players, minutes on the pitch is not something I can give away".

"We all know the difficulties he had in the last two seasons. He came in injured and is still a bit up and down in some things," he continued, before sending him a message: "He has to be consistent in training. When a player is consistent in training, he's ready to earn, not receive, minutes. It's different.

Many were hoping for Gareth Bale's redemption as a Spurs player and it seemed that all the circumstances were in place: a good manager and an expert in resurrections, a return to the islands, a return home? However, the Welshman has been a failure.

He has barely played 623 minutes and has only scored three goals in 12 games. He has only played four Premier League games and Mou has only given him a starting place in the Europa League.