90min

Jose Mourinho Defends 'Professional' Steven Bergwijn & Talks Gareth Bale Fitness

By Jude Summerfield

Tottenham lost a league game for the second time this season in midweek
Tottenham lost a league game for the second time this season in midweek / Pool/Getty Images
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Tottenham are back in action on Sunday when they host Brendan Rodgers' Leicester in the Premier League.

Spurs lost their spot at the top of the table following their 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday. With one point from their last two games, Sunday's fixture offers Jose Mourinho's side the perfect opportunity to get back on the horse and start picking up wins again.

Here's what manager Mourinho said before the weekend's fixture, which sees the league's second placed team take on the fourth placed outfit.

Team News

Gareth Bale missed the trip to Liverpool through illness and Mourinho provided an update on the Welshman, revealing he should be available. He also touched on the potential availability of Japhet Tanganga and Erik Lamela.

"Bale is fine. He trained yesterday [Thursday] with the team and today [Friday]. He looks OK. If he's OK again tomorrow [Saturday] then he'll be fine.

"Tanganga is out. Lamela trained, I cannot say 100% with the team but some exercises with us. He's coming to the end of his injury but still not ready. Not close."

Steven Bergwijn Abuse

Bergwijn struck the post at Anfield
Bergwijn struck the post at Anfield / Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Netherlands international Bergwijn was heavily criticised on social media for missing a few chances at Anfield, with one strike coming back off the post when the scoreline was still 1-1. But Mourinho, as you'd expect, backed the winger and added that no one player is solely responsible whenever his side wins, draws or loses.

"He's one of my boys, period. There's no point for me to individualise. He's a good professional and he gives everything he can for the team.

"In this club we're all together. In some clubs, it's the culture of 'they lost, we drew, I won'. Here, no. Here, we lose, we win and we draw all together. So he has us and we have him."

Bergwijn is yet to score or assist for Tottenham in nine Premier League games so far this season and has Bale and Lucas Moura for competition on the right wing, but has earned admirers for his tireless and sacrificial work ethic.

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