Rumours are circulating that Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale could start in Saturday’s Champions League final against Liverpool.
Bale has scored five goals in his last five matches for Madrid and it is rumoured that he will start in place of striker Karim Benzema.
Rumours getting stronger that @GarethBale11 will start for Real Madrid tonight, with Benzema on bench. If so, believe that's good news for Liverpool – Real have looked worse team when Ronaldo plays alongside Bale at times this season. Questions linger about their relationship….
— David Maddock (@MaddockMirror) May 26, 2018
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane will have to essentially choose two of the three between Bale, Isco and Benzema to start alongside Champions League leading goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo and the Frenchman admitted earlier this week that omitting players from the starting XI is the hardest part of management.
“Yes, of course (it’s the hardest part),” said Zidane.
“I’ve said this repeatedly, I think this is the worst moment for a coach, when you have to make the choice, especially for a final, because some players will put their jersey on and others won’t.
“That’s the most difficult job for a manager, but I have to take that responsibility on and make that choice for the team.”
Madrid will look to become the first team since Bayern Munich to win three consecutive European Cups and although they are 11/10 favourites for the tie Zidane insists that it should be a 50/50 game.
“People can say many things, but we know it is not like that,” Zidane said. “It is 50/50, like all finals. We must play a great game to win it. In the dressing-room, we do not feel like favourites.”
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