adminCARDIFF. — Wales soccer team manager Chris Coleman has said it would be “dangerous” if Real Madrid attempt to play Gareth Bale for the whole of their match against Villarreal on Saturday.
Bale was on the field for the final 32 minutes of Wales’ 3-0 defeat by Serbia in Cardiff on Tuesday, a result that dropped Coleman’s men to the bottom of the European zone World Cup qualifying Group A table.
The 24-year-old had been a pre-match doubt because of a groin problem.
But Bale, who joined Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur last week in a deal widely reported to be the world’s most expensive transfer at around £86 million, looked sharp in his first competitive action since the move and nearly scored a consolation goal with a swerving free-kick. Bale now heads back to Spain, with Coleman warning he was still short of full fitness given Tuesday’s appearance was his first match action since July.
“If he starts Saturday, he will not finish the game. I would be amazed if he does,” Coleman said of Bale.
“We have looked at him in these 10 days and he is nowhere near ready for 90 minutes even if Spanish football is slower.
“He may start, but he won’t finish the game.
“He may get 45 minutes, I don’t know, but he will feel better in himself after 30 minutes here.
“But he has only had four training sessions in two months which is dangerous.”
Coleman added: “He played 30 minutes but after 15 minutes he looked tired — but he has only had four training sessions, so you will not get what you normally get.
“But he gave us a lift, the fans were excited and it gave us a spur, although the game was done and dusted.” — AFP.
Online Reporter