Gareth Bale was Carlo Ancelotti’s big surprise in Real Madrid’s draw at the Estadio de la Cerámica. The Welshman hadn’t played for months, but he made the cut and came close to scoring several goals. If it is not for Rulli or the crossbar, the ’18’ could even have signed a double. He was one of the best on the team just a few days before the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Paris Saint Germain and it is inevitable that he will now be in all the pools to be in the game. Even for Jorge Valdano, who even surprised himself in El Tercer Tiempo de #Vamos. The one who on his day was a director of the club had already been critical of the winger’s performance on occasion. However, he now asks for ownership of it:
“Bale seems to me the best possibility. The psychological characteristics of the players also matter and we have already said it, Bale is excited by big occasions. We have already seen it in the Champions League finals, for example. There are players who get smaller and others who get bigger. We are facing an almost unique case, which on big occasions has always said present. Because he is a great player, that is the reality. The tasks of quartermaster, the tasks of continuity throughout a season cost him more. But on big occasions he always responds“.
Despite this, Gareth Bale’s ownership depends to a certain extent on Karim Benzema. The Frenchman has been in charge of going out to a press conference, something usual in players who are starters the next day. In addition, he has maintained a speech that raises optimism in Real Madrid: “If I have to force, I will force.” It seems that finally the ‘9’ will be ready for one of the big games so far in 2022. In the event that he stays on the bench so as not to take any risk, the Welshman could enter from the start. There are other options like Isco, Luka Jovic, Hazard, Rodrygo-Asensio-Vinicius or putting in a fourth midfielder. But there are already many authorized voices that bet on a player who had not been a starter since Matchday 3 of LaLiga Santander.
There is also a possibility, albeit a considerably lower one, that Bale will start even with Benzema in the line-up. In that case, he would start from the right wing in Carletto’s 4-3-3. The left would be for Vinicius and in the other lane he would fight for a gap with Marco Asensio or Rodrygo. It is true, however, that his two rivals are the usual ones this season. Be that as it may, Carlo Ancelotti has sent a hopeful message to Bale before the media: “He may not have had much motivation in past years, but now he is fine and wants to finish here as he deserves.“. A happy ending, perhaps, starting his final tour in the Parc des Princes. Valdano bets on it.