Zinedine Zidane says Real Madrid have missed “important player” Gareth Bale while he has been injured these last two months, but would not confirm whether the Wales international would return in Saturday’s La Liga game against Malaga at the Bernabeu.
“We know what Gareth can bring us,” Zidane said. “Many things. He is very strong, fast, technically very good, works very hard. It’s true there has been a lot of talk about his injuries, and that he plays just three games before another [absence].
“But he is a very important player for us. He knows that, we know that, everyone does. He is training without a problem, but I don’t know when he will play. We want him back 100 percent, he will not need so much time as there was not a big gap between the two injuries this time.”
“[Navas and Kovacic] are ready but maybe they are in the squad, maybe not,” Zidane said. “You will see tomorrow whether Sergio will play. We have other players who can play there, and can will do well.”
Zidane added that regular injury problems through the autumn were no excuse for his team finding themselves so far behind Barca in the table.
“I am not going to look for excuses,” he said. “The 10 points are not due to injuries, that can happen in football. It is a bit of everything, and I am responsible for that.”
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