SKY SPORTS: ' GARETH BALE DESPERATE '

Gareth Bale 'desperate' for Champions League final chance in Cardiff despite Isco form


Sky Sports

30/05/17

Zinedine Zidane faces a selection dilemma with Gareth Bale fit and 'desperate' to play in Cardiff

Zinedine Zidane says Gareth Bale is "desperate" to play in a Champions League homecoming against Juventus as debate rages over Real Madrid's starting XI for Saturday's showdown.

Bale has not played since suffering the latest in a series of calf injuries against Barcelona on April 23, but has returned to training ahead of the clash in his hometown of Cardiff.

The pressure is on Real boss Zidane to choose between Madrid's record signing or stick with in-form Isco, who has scored five goals and notched three assists in his last eight games.

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Spanish commentators have talked up Isco's worth ahead of the final, while opposition manager Max Allegri has waded in, declaring the Spaniard "much more technical" than the Wales international.

Isco has thrived in Bale's injury-enforced absence

But Zidane insisted he would not be swayed by popular opinion, telling reporters at his pre-match news conference: "It's normal that there's this debate. They're both very important players and everyone can give their opinion but it's not going to influence me.

"The most important thing is that everyone is available and prepared for the game.






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"Gareth doesn't need to tell me anything. He is ready, he is back with us and he is absolutely desperate to play because it is his home.

"We know what type of player Isco is - he showed that throughout the season - but the important thing is that all our players are in top form."

Bale's injuries have limited him to 24 starts in all competitions this season, the lowest number of games he has played since his big-money move from Tottenham in 2013.

But he has proved decisive in the three major finals he has played for Real, scoring in the 2014 Copa del Rey final against Barcelona and the 2014 Champions League final against Atletico Madrid, as well as providing an assist in the 2016 final against Atletico and converting his penalty in the shoot-out win.

As questions over his team selection persisted, Zidane even raised the possibility of the two playing together at some stage against the Italian champions.

"The two of them are very good players," he added. "They played 16 games together this season; everyone speaks about Gareth or Isco but they can play together."

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If they want to win this game, it's simple choice - Isco all the way, he has been at the heart of everything the latter half of the season and offers more than Bale.

I feel Bale is overrated to a certain degree and has been woeful for Real since joining them.

If they want to win this game, it's simple choice - Isco all the way, he has been at the heart of everything the latter half of the season and offers more than Bale.

I feel Bale is overrated to a certain degree and has been woeful for Real since joining them.

It's all about opinions but Bale has delivered when it truly matters...for Real Madrid and for Wales

Arguments could be made for both but this isn't an ordinary La Liga game and Juventus will be no pushover, so the manager will have a decision to make

Personally, for sentimental reasons (I can do that, as Gareth is a local boy and I'm not their manager ) and the fact I'm lucky enough to be at the game, I would plump for Bale to start and then see how the game unfolds. He will be so 'up' for it!

Isco can then be used as a fresh pair of legs later on depending on the situation they find themselves in

Both are 'big' players for Real Madrid and both should play some part in the final (together or otherwise)

If they want to win this game, it's simple choice - Isco all the way, he has been at the heart of everything the latter half of the season and offers more than Bale.

I feel Bale is overrated to a certain degree and has been woeful for Real since joining them.

It's all about opinions but Bale has delivered when it truly matters...for Real Madrid and for Wales

Arguments could be made for both but this isn't an ordinary La Liga game and Juventus will be no pushover, so the manager will have a decision to make

Personally, for sentimental reasons (I can do that, as Gareth is a local boy and I'm not their manager ) and the fact I'm lucky enough to be at the game, I would plump for Bale to start and then see how the game unfolds. He will be so 'up' for it!

Isco can then be used as a fresh pair of legs later on depending on the situation they find themselves in

Both are 'big' players for Real Madrid and both should play some part in the final (together or otherwise)

So woeful he's been in 1st team practically all season except when injured! Even recently zidane said how important he is to the team

If they want to win this game, it's simple choice - Isco all the way, he has been at the heart of everything the latter half of the season and offers more than Bale.

I feel Bale is overrated to a certain degree and has been woeful for Real since joining them.

It's all about opinions but Bale has delivered when it truly matters...for Real Madrid and for Wales

Arguments could be made for both but this isn't an ordinary La Liga game and Juventus will be no pushover, so the manager will have a decision to make

Personally, for sentimental reasons (I can do that, as Gareth is a local boy and I'm not their manager ) and the fact I'm lucky enough to be at the game, I would plump for Bale to start and then see how the game unfolds. He will be so 'up' for it!

Isco can then be used as a fresh pair of legs later on depending on the situation they find themselves in

Both are 'big' players for Real Madrid and both should play some part in the final (together or otherwise)

So woeful he's been in 1st team practically all season except when injured! Even recently zidane said how important he is to the team

He's got a decent scoring record in a poor league, other than the main sides, rest of La Liga is poor in comparison to Prem, just whenever I've watched him for Real, he's not done much to win me over.

If they want to win this game, it's simple choice - Isco all the way, he has been at the heart of everything the latter half of the season and offers more than Bale.

I feel Bale is overrated to a certain degree and has been woeful for Real since joining them.

It's all about opinions but Bale has delivered when it truly matters...for Real Madrid and for Wales

Arguments could be made for both but this isn't an ordinary La Liga game and Juventus will be no pushover, so the manager will have a decision to make

Personally, for sentimental reasons (I can do that, as Gareth is a local boy and I'm not their manager ) and the fact I'm lucky enough to be at the game, I would plump for Bale to start and then see how the game unfolds. He will be so 'up' for it!

Isco can then be used as a fresh pair of legs later on depending on the situation they find themselves in

Both are 'big' players for Real Madrid and both should play some part in the final (together or otherwise)

So woeful he's been in 1st team practically all season except when injured! Even recently zidane said how important he is to the team

He's got a decent scoring record in a poor league, other than the main sides, rest of La Liga is poor in comparison to Prem, just whenever I've watched him for Real, he's not done much to win me over.

There's a lot of pressure playing as a Galactico and he's 'done the business' against Barca, inside and outside of La Liga and internationally. He also did it for Spurs and Southampton before that; hence the biggest transfer fee in the world at that time

As I said, it's all about opinions but I'd take his "poor form" if I could put it in a City shirt!

If it's not broke don't fix it and Madrid have done fine without Bale.

I'm very sorry to say this, but Zidane would be an idiot to drop Isco. I also think this particular game requires more of a footballing technician in the number 10 role to move the ball around with speed and accuracy to penetrate Juventus' incredible defense.

Juventus are so organised, they didn't concede a single goal in 2 legs against a Barcelona front 3 of Messi, Neymar and Suarez. Sadly, playing Bale ahead of Isco increases the chances of more turnovers of possession during the game, as while Bale is more of an individual who relies on his incredible pace and dribbling ability to create chances, Isco relies on his incredible technical ability and footballing brain.

I think Juventus will nullify both Bale and Ronaldo if they both start. Bale and Ronaldo will both try to do too much, running into tunnels, losing possession and leaving their team open for Juventus to capitalise. Against almost any other team, I would back Bale and Ronaldo to use their individual talent to win the game. But this is Juventus, the team with the best defensive organisation in world football. Different tactics and a different type of player is required.

Playing Isco increases Madrid's chances of controlling possession and Isco's artistry will improve Madrid's chances of penetrating, scoring and winning in this particular game.

I'm very sorry to say this, but Zidane would be an idiot to drop Isco. I also think this particular game requires more of a footballing technician in the number 10 role to move the ball around with speed and accuracy to penetrate Juventus' incredible defense.

Juventus are so organised, they didn't concede a single goal in 2 legs against a Barcelona front 3 of Messi, Neymar and Suarez. Sadly, playing Bale ahead of Isco increases the chances of more turnovers of possession during the game, as while Bale is more of an individual who relies on his incredible pace and dribbling ability to create chances, Isco relies on his incredible technical ability and footballing brain.

I think Juventus will nullify both Bale and Ronaldo if they both start. Bale and Ronaldo will both try to do too much, running into tunnels, losing possession and leaving their team open for Juventus to capitalise. Against almost any other team, I would back Bale and Ronaldo to use their individual talent to win the game. But this is Juventus, the team with the best defensive organisation in world football. Different tactics and a different type of player is required.

Playing Isco increases Madrid's chances of controlling possession and Isco's artistry will improve Madrid's chances of penetrating, scoring and winning in this particular game.

but isnt this control the game / keep possession / limit turn overs. the exact reason Barca were so ineffective against them ?

Simple, play Ronaldo up top and put Isco out on the right. That way Benzema won't have to play, and quite how he get's anywhere near the real squad is beyond me!

Really want to see Bale play at the Millstad