The Wales international enjoyed a warm relationship
with the former Real Madrid head coach, and admitted
that news of his departure hit him hard
Gareth Bale has expressed his disappointment at Real
Madrid’s sacking of Rafa Benitez.
The former Liverpool and Chelsea boss was replaced
by Zinedine Zidane last Monday after only 25 games
in charge of the Spanish giants, a decision understood
to have upset the Welshman who was close to
Benitez.
Speaking after Madrid’s 5-0 triumph over Deportivo La
Coruna in Zidane’s first match in charge at the
Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, Bale was forthcoming
about his views on Benitez’s dismissal.
“I had a very good relationship with Rafa, obviously it
was a big disappointment to see him go,” he said.
Bale’s disappointment however did not affect his
performance with the Welsh forward becoming the
first player in La Liga this season to score a hat-trick
on more than one occasion.
His three goals on Saturday brought his tally to ten in
his last seven matches and he clearly did not want to
dwell on the change of manager.
READ MORE | Zidane & Bale banish Rafa
memory
“Things like this happen in football, you’re professional
and you get on with it and carry on”.
The Blancos lie third in the table two points behind
leaders Barcelona having played a game more than
their Catalan rivals, yet Bale believes the deficit and
the change in manager has not ruled Madrid out of
the title race.
“The league is definitely still on. I think this time last
year we were clear and we hadn’t lost in 22 games or
something.
"We know what can happen in the league, we know
we have to keep fighting all the way, we’ll keep doing
that until the last whistle.”
Having been expelled from the Copa Del Rey for
fielding an illegible player, Madrid have a whole week
to prepare for their next league clash at home to
Sporting Gijon on Sunday 17th January.
Source:goal.com
