SM
Man Utd vs. PAOK: 1 hr 15 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
WN
Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage
Sep 6, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
AN

2-1

Pasayev (26' og.), Bale (84')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Madatov (59')

Gareth Bale "raring to go" after summer of speculation

:Headline: Gareth Bale 'raring to go' after summer of speculation: ID:370471: from db_amp
A summer move to China looked on the cards for Bale until Real Madrid pulled the plug.

Gareth Bale says he feels more settled and is "raring to go" for Wales on Friday.

Ryan Giggs' team take on Azerbaijan on Friday in a European Championship qualifying match.

Bale looked set to leave Real Madrid for a big-money move to China this summer, only for the Spanish giants to pull the plug at the last moment.

Gareth Bale ended his scoring drought with Real Madrid on Sunday (PA)

The 30-year-old  ended a scoring drought stretching back to March 16 with two goals in the 2-2 LaLiga draw at Villarreal on Sunday, although he did blot his copybook by being dismissed in stoppage time.

Bale told a press conference: "The transfer window has closed. I don't think mentally it affected me but I had not played for four to six weeks.

"It was nice to be back on the scoresheet (for Real Madrid) and now I am fit and raring to go."

Ryan Giggs was pleased with Bale's double against Villarreal (PA)

Real team-mate Thibaut Courtois suggested in an interview that Bale is generally isolated from the squad and would rather play golf on the weekend than bond with the team.

That earned him the nickname 'The Golfer', but Bale is happy with the moniker, adding: "I am a golfer. People make a lot of it, but I enjoy it and it keeps me calmer on the pitch."

The Wales forward claimed not being picked by Harry Redknapp at Spurs "for a year" was a harder time in his career.

He said: "I just kept my head down and worked hard in training. If you want answers you maybe need to ask Real Madrid."

Bale said not being picked by Harry Redknapp at Tottenham was tough (PA)

Wales struggled to impress against Croatia and Hungary in the summer. They trail group leaders Hungary by six points, albeit with a game in hand, and are three adrift of Croatia and Slovakia in the race for a top-two spot.

Bale added: "We know what we need to do. It was disappointing what happened in the summer but we have the chance to put it right."

Giggs was pleased with Bale's contribution on Sunday and said: "When he scores he tends to get on a roll."

However, the boss revealed that Ben Woodburn is likely to be missing against Azerbaijan.

The Liverpool forward, currently on loan at Sky Bet League One side Oxford, is struggling with a bug.

Ben Woodburn has a bug (PA)

However, Giggs confirmed that the rest of his squad are fit and available – including Daniel James.

Manchester United's summer signing from Swansea has scored three goals in four appearances for the club so far this season.

Former United winger Giggs has not been surprised by James' start to life at Old Trafford.

"He's at the right club – a club which loves wingers," Giggs said. "We've all seen what he's capable of in the last eight or nine months and he's going to get better and better."

amp_article__370471 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-09-05 12:51:19:
html db last update - 2019-09-05 12:51:19 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Gareth Bale

Click here for more stories about Real Madrid

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona12110140112933
2Real Madrid1173121111024
3Atletico MadridAtletico126511871123
4Villarreal116322019121
5Osasuna126331716121
6Athletic Bilbao125431812619
7Real BetisBetis125431210219
8Mallorca12534109118
9Rayo Vallecano114431210216
10Celta Vigo125161820-216
11Real Sociedad124351010015
12GironaGirona124351517-215
13Sevilla124351217-515
14AlavesAlaves124171419-513
15Leganes122551216-411
16Getafe12174810-210
17Espanyol123181122-1110
18Las PalmasLas Palmas122371321-89
19Real ValladolidValladolid12228924-158
20Valencia11146817-97
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .