Zinedine Zidane asked 11 questions about Gareth Bale in extraordinary Real Madrid press conference

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Ben Hayward29 October 2019

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane was asked 11 questions about Gareth Bale in an extraordinary press conference on Tuesday.

Bale has been back in the news in Spain after suffering a calf injury on international duty with Wales earlier this month and then being filmed by television cameras travelling to London on Monday.

The 30-year-old, who has been targeted by the Madrid media for much of his time in Spain, was missing as Real trained on Tuesday ahead of their La Liga game with Leganes.

And after the standard opening question from the club's television channel in Tuesday's press conference, the Bale inquest began.

In the first question, it was put to Zidane that every two weeks, there is a controversy with Bale, and the Frenchman was asked if the Welshman's attitude was right, whether he was committed.

"It's good that you asked that," the Real Madrid coach said. "A lot of things are said. We have a good relationship with him. When he's not available, he's not available and that's that. The important thing is that, when he is ready [to return], we all know the player he is. And you do too. He is involved, when he can be, and committed to playing well for the team."

Zidane was then quizzed about the player's trip to London and whether he wants to leave the club.

"It's a personal matter," the Frenchman said. "He had permission from the club and that's all. And he went because he is not available [to play]. He has never spoken about leaving. He's here. When he can train, he trains. And when he can play, he plays. And he has played many games. That's all."

But that was not all. Because there were still nine more questions to come, some of which included two topics in one intervention.

Next up: had Bale spoken to Zidane about his trip to London and when would he be available to play again?

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"He spoke to the club directly," the coach said. "It's a personal matter. Every player has his right to personal matters. It's a personal matter and permission from the club. Period." And he did not even bother with the second part.

The following journalist apologised for persisting with the topic and praised Bale for his defensive contribution in recent games, before asking Zidane if the winger had been angry at being left out of the Champions League clash at home to Club Brugge at the beginning of October.

"I don't think so," Zidane said. "I spoke to him and to James [Rodriguez]. The two of them were unavailable. People think and write things, but they weren't available. He'll be back this afternoon. He had permission for yesterday and today."

After that, the Frenchman was then asked if he had seen the images of Bale (broadcast by El Chiringuito) accompanied by his physiotherapist from the Welsh national team.

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"No," he said. "Gareth can do what he likes. He can be with whom he likes. I didn't know."

Six minutes in and with Zidane now looking slightly weary, the Bale questions continued with one about how his coach would feel about the player leaving in the January transfer window, having been close to an exit in the summer.

"You know what the situation was then," he said. "Gareth stayed and it's better for everyone. What happens outside doesn't help. You want to pit me against him, him against me. But he's an important player in this squad and for this club.

"If he stays in January, then you'll talk about the summer. Unfortunately, that's how it is. These things are always spoken about. He's happy and I believe he's happy to be here."

A brief interlude followed as Zidane was asked about Raul and whether his former team-mate would make a good Real Madrid coach in future, to which he answered positively.

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But back to Bale and it was put to the Frenchman that it surely would have been better for the winger to ask the coach for permission for his trip to the UK.

"No," he said. "He spoke to the doctor and with the club. Then we spoke among ourselves, but the club gave permission. When one leaves here, it has to be with permission of the club. That's the most important thing."

Zidane was then asked, with Bale clearly in mind, if it were possible for a player at Real Madrid to lose his desire to play football.

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"I don't understand your question," he said. And when it was repeated, he added: "Who would take away that desire? If a player is here, they deserve to be. He is happy to be here and to show that."

Another journalist then enquired as to whether Zidane found it a pain to respond to all these questions about Bale and his trip to London.

"No," he said. "It's very simple: he asked for permission for the club and the club gave it. It's a personal matter. You can say he went to do this or that, but I don't get involved. It's not a pain for me. Sometimes, maybe. But not in this case."

Another break came next via a question about how, in Spain, the ball is in play less than in Europe's other big leagues and Zidane admitted he did not really know what to say because he was unaware of that information.

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So it was back to Bale. Next, it was put to the Frenchman by a radio reporter that the Welshman must be frustrated by his constant injury problems.

"I don't know," he said. "You have to ask him. These are always somewhat delicate matters. Here, there are very valid people who work with care. You'll have to ask him, but if you ask him about the people who work here, he's happy. They are professionals."

Still, though, there was one more to come. Would the club consider an offer for the player in January?

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"I don't think there will be an offer," Zidane said. "Gareth is a Real Madrid player. In January, they will talk. If not in June. But at the moment, he's here and I'm happy with him. When he's ready to play, everyone is happy with him."

The press conference concluded with two questions in French, one about the Copa del Rey exit to Leganes in 2017-18 (described by Zidane as one of his biggest lows in his first spell in charge) and another about his own future at the club.

"The work of a coach has many things behind it, but the results are very important," he said. "It will always be that way. As long as I'm coach of Madrid."

And as long as both he and Bale are at the Santiago Bernabeu, there will be questions about the Welsh winger as well. But 11 in one press conference might just be difficult to beat.

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