Bale rushed back from injury & is prepared to start Champions League final on the bench
The Welshman concedes he is not fit enough to play 90 minutes
Madrid's loss to Barça in April was the last time he played a match
Real Madrid star Gareth Bale admits he tried to come back from injury too soon earlier this season and as a consequence is prepared to start the Champions League final on the bench in his hometown.
The debate in Madrid this week has focused on whether Bale, who is back in full training, will start Saturday’s final in Cardiff against Juventus ahead of Isco.
However, speaking at a Media Day, the Welsh forward honestly revealed how he mismanaged his return from injury and even said he’s not fit enough to complete 90 minutes this weekend.
“I am not 100 percent,” he conceded. “I haven’t played for six or seven weeks. I obviously had my operation which still really hasn’t recovered.
“If I’m called upon to start, I will start obviously. But to last 90 minutes… I haven’t played a lot of football this year since my operation, so that would be difficult.
"Obviously any surgery is difficult, but in the middle of a season is always that bit more difficult. You want to come back as soon as possible. In hindsight I should have stayed out a bit longer and let it heal and strengthen. But obviously that wasn't the case, I'll live and I'll learn.
“Isco has been playing fantastically well for us, at the end of the season, so whatever the manager decides I will [accept it]. Whether he or I start, we’ll both be cheering each other on.”
Bale had surgery on an ankle ligament injury sustained in November and returned 88 days later, scoring in Madrid’s win over Espanyol.
However, in April, after fighting the pain with pills, he was injured in the first half of the Clasico defeat against Barcelona and has not been able to play since.
Despite Bale’s fitness admission, though, Madrid coach Zidane will ultimately have the last say and the former Tottenham player says the Frenchman has not given away any clues as to what side he will pick yet.
“I’m sure [Zidane] will speak to us and I’ll find out at some point, but I have been working hard, training now the last few days,” Bale said in a more positive manner.
“We had a practice game on Saturday and I came through it all unscathed. I feel strong, feel fit, [but] obviously match fitness is a different thing.
“It has been a difficult season, so whatever I am required to do [I will do]. I obviously have battled hard to get fit for this, and whatever is the best for the team is the most important thing: to lift that Champions League trophy is the most important thing.”
