- Title: Bale wasn't fit for Real's Munich trip, says Zidane
- Date: 31st July 2019
- Summary: MUNICH, GERMANY (JULY 30, 2019) (REUTERS) REAL MADRID COACH, ZINEDINE ZIDANE, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA VARIOUS OF ZIDANE MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH, ZINEDINE ZIDANE, SAYING: "No, he (Gareth Bale) didn't travel with us because he didn't feel that well and after speaking with the doctors it was decided that the best thing was for him to stay in Madrid and that's what we did. He stayed there to train and that's it. It's the decision we made all together with the doctors and with me speaking with him and that's it." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH, ZINEDINE ZIDANE, SAYING: "No, because I always think positively, and I will always think positively. Nobody is going to take away from me what we're going to do this year. Nobody. I know it is complicated because we just ended a difficult season and it's been a tough start. And Madrid, even if some people think differently, we know, I know that I have a great team. We're not ready yet, that's evident. We're going to recuperate more time on the pitch, more confidence and more everything and we're going to charge ahead. Because what we need right now is just to win a game, really." MEDIA ZIDANE LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE TOTTENHAM COACH, MAURICIO POCHETTINO, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE POCHETTINO SEATED AUDI CUP 2019 BANNER TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR LOGO (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOTTENHAM COACH MAURICIO POCHETTINO, SAYING: "We are looking to try to be better every single day, to try to improve in the way that we play, to try to start a strong season. I think our objective is to start the season in a very good dynamic and try to start to win and that is why I think we are happy because I think our dynamic from the beginning, our precision. I think we are doing well." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS VARIOUS OF MEDIA TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR LOGO (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOTTENHAM COACH MAURICIO POCHETTINO, SAYING: "I think we are doing well but the most important is the feeling that we are getting from all these training sessions and of course, all the games that was so competitive. Of course, we need to improve, and hope in the next few weeks we will be ready to compete at our best. Of course, I cannot talk too much about Real Madrid. It's not my job to judge them, only Real Madrid is one of the best team in the whole world. They have an unbelievable squad and of course that is only position. And I think we cannot care about the result too much, only to be focused and to try to improve the team, to be better." MEDIA
- Embargoed: 14th August 2019 09:58
- Keywords: Audi Cup Zinedine Zidane Gareth Bale soccer Real Madrid Tottenham Hotspur
- Location: MUNICH, GERMANY
- City: MUNICH, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001APZ0WN3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Gareth Bale was not fit to travel with Real Madrid for their pre-season friendly against Tottenham Hotspur in Munich, manager Zinedine Zidane has said.
Wales international Bale on Tuesday (July 30) missed the Audi Cup match, which Spurs won 1-0, following the collapse of his proposed move to China.
British media reported Real's board refused to approve Bale's departure, with Jiangsu Suning wanting to acquire the 30-year-old on a free transfer.
"He didn't travel because he wasn't fit," Zidane told reporters after the match at Allianz Arena.
"After speaking with the doctors, the best thing was for him to stay in Madrid. He stayed back and is training there. It was a joint decision between the player, medical staff and the coach."
Bale, who has won four Champions League titles since joining Madrid from Tottenham in 2013, appears to be out of favour at the Spanish club after Zidane said last week he was "very close to leaving".
Real have now lost three of their four pre-season matches including a 7-3 defeat against rivals Atletico Madrid. Zidane was asked if he was worried about the season but he said he always thinks positively and knows where the club needs to improve.
Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino said there was still room for improvement for his team but added that the win had been important.
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