By Harry Corish
Gareth Bale has been backed by Davide Ancelotti to bow out with yet another trophy when Real Madrid face Liverpool in the Champions League Final at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday.
Bale scored twice for Real against Liverpool in 2018, and the Wales captain has won the Champions League four times during his nine years in Spain.
The talisman who will carry his nation’s hope of World Cup play-off glory next weekend scored one of the greatest goals in Champions League history in the 2018 final – a glorious overhead kick past the helpless Loris Karius, not long after coming off the bench.
Whether he comes on to repeat his heroics in the 2018 Champions League final in Kyiv against the same opponents this weekend remains to be seen.
Bale is leaving Real this summer, but the 32-year-old could yet make a farewell appearance after spending the last six weeks sidelined by a back problem.
Ancelotti – assistant coach at Real and the son of manager Carlo – believes Bale will finish his time at Madrid with yet more silverware, following what has been glittering career in the Spanish capital.
The Welsh winger has struggled with injuries this past season but showed against Austria that he is not quite done yet.
Gareth Bale leaves Real Madrid a true legend 🤍 pic.twitter.com/Iz1BWEUkgE
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 20, 2022
“Gareth is a guy that is loved around the place, from the coaching staff to his team-mates,” said Ancelotti, who was in Wales last weekend attending the FAW’s National Coaches Conference at Newport.
“This season he has struggled with injuries, but we are happy to have him available for the final. He already gave a lot of trophies to Real Madrid and has a chance to give the club another one.
“He has written the history of the club because, if you see the pictures of the trophies in the big moments of Real Madrid, there is Gareth and, of course, he will be remembered there.”
Following Saturday’s Champions League Final on Saturday, Bale will meet up with Wales who meet either Scotland or Ukraine on June 5 at Cardiff City Stadium to determine who goes to the World Cup finals in Qatar.
Before then, Wales have a Nations League away to Poland on June 1.
Manager Robert Page has been hit with the withdrawal of young Sunderland striker Nathan Broadhead, which has meant a first senior call-up for Cardiff City’s Oliver Denham.
Denham has had quite the rise following his release from Manchester United in 2020.
🚨| Davide Ancelotti will ‘debut’ as Real Madrid’s first coach in place of his father, Carlo. @marca #rmalive 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/Zcy1jKFUTS
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) April 1, 2022
The 20-year-old from Holmes Chapel won a contract at Cardiff City before impressing against Liverpool in the FA Cup in January.
The defender has since played five out of Cardiff’s final six games in the Championship and has impressed Bluebirds fans.
Denham said: “From the Liverpool match it’s been completely different for me; being promoted to the first team, and these last three weeks playing most games, it’s just been unreal.
“I’ve just been trying to give my best to help us get results.
“I know what the gaffer wants from me. I know what I need to give him to impress enough to keep me around, and I think that relationship has definitely helped me coming through.
“He will tell you what he thinks, so you know what he wants from you and if you do that, he’ll be happy and play you.
It wasn’t long ago that Oliver Denham was worried his professional football hopes were lost after being released by Manchester United during the pandemic. After a superb season at Cardiff City, he’s received his first Cymru call up. Class 👌🏴 pic.twitter.com/DVxIXBVHcl
— Welsh Football Fans (@welshfootball_) May 24, 2022
“I’m just showing what I can do and hopefully I can show enough to influence me playing next season.”
The pair will meet up with the Welsh squad as they prepare for their World Cup play-off match in Cardiff on the 5th June.
