Gareth Bale’s Champions League chances take a hit as Zinedine Zidane axes Welshman from squad
ZINEDINE ZIDANE axed Gareth Bale from his squad just days after winning La Liga. The Frenchman masterminded Real’s 34th La Liga triumph with a 2-1 victory over Villarreal. But, ahead of the clash with Leganes, Zidane – in his second stint as Bernabeu boss – admitted he is unsure if he will be in the […]
ZINEDINE ZIDANE axed Gareth Bale from his squad just days after winning La Liga.
The Frenchman masterminded Real’s 34th La Liga triumph with a 2-1 victory over Villarreal.
But, ahead of the clash with Leganes, Zidane – in his second stint as Bernabeu boss – admitted he is unsure if he will be in the hotseat next season.
He is only three trophies short of Miguel Munoz’s club record of 14 pieces of silverware – and hopes to add more if his side can overcome a 2-1 deficit against Manchester City in the Champions League next month.
Bale’s involvement in that tie is in major doubt after Zidane left him out of the 22-man squad for the final league match of the season.
The Welshman, 31, has played just 100 minutes and been on the pitch in just two of Real’s ten games since the season resumed.
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And four-time Champions League winner Bale cut a distant figure during Real’s title celebrations on Thursday after he was an unused substitute once again.
But Zidane’s pointed words on his own future could offer a lifeline to the ex-Tottenham ace’s hopes of future game time in Madrid.
The trophy-laden boss has two years left on his Real contract but has alerted Europe’s biggest clubs by refusing to commit to a long-term stay.
Zidane said: “I’m here now, but nobody knows what’s going to happen.
“That’s why I don’t talk about next year or the year after.
I’ve got a contract, I feel at home and I’m enjoying what I do.
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“You never know what’s going to happen in football and that’s why I’m relaxed about my situation.
“Things can change from one day to the next in football and I don’t know what’ll happen in the future.
“For the time being, I continue to enjoy myself and we’ll see how long it lasts”.