Gareth Bale arrived at the Classic last Sunday with options not only to have minutes in the match against Barcelona, but to be a starter as a center forward in the absence of Benzema. The loss of the French opened a hole in the eleven that Carlo Ancelotti did not know how to fill: he does not trust Mariano or Jovic and the false nine experiments (Asensio, Isco…) have not finished coming out. Bale played in that position at Villarreal’s home and did not score, but he had chances and transmitted a lot of danger. It was a more than decent option. But the Welshman, who entered the list on Saturday, fell on Sunday due to alleged back pain and, finally, the one chosen to act there was Modric. An extravagance by Ancelotti that cost Madrid dearly: they fell 0-4.
In this context, it remained to be seen in what state Bale would arrive in Wales for the dispute of the qualifying play-off for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the Welshman’s last chance to play in a World Cup event. The surprise (or not so much, as it is not the first time it has happened) came when Bale trained without problems last Tuesday in Cardiff. Not a word of those discomforts in the back, paying the theory that has taken hold among Real Madrid: on a scale, his selection weighs much more than Madrid for Gareth Bale. This Wednesday, he returned to work without any physical problem.
“I only focused on this playoff”
The winger came out at a press conference before the duel against Austria (later, if they win, there will be another against Scotland or Ukraine, a duel postponed until June due to the Russian invasion of Ukrainian territory) and He tried to avoid, together with his coach, Rob Page, the questions that came to him about these opportune inconveniences that prevented him from playing the Clásicowhich also preserved his physique in the face of the final that he must play with his country.
“It’s normal to have some discomfort, but in general I’m in pretty good shape. I’ve been training for two and a half months. I’m in much better shape than the last time I was here focused. I’m ready to play no matter what happens tomorrow”, explained Bale. He was also asked about his future, knowing that his contract with Madrid expires on June 30 and that he is not going to renew:”I haven’t thought about that at all. Ever since I knew we were going to be in this situation (Wales play-offs for the World Cup), I have only focused on this. Thinking about the future can generate doubts, that’s why I haven’t done it. What happens in the future, I will decide in the future”, commented the still Real Madrid player.