Bale's career at Kiev crossroad

MADRID－Gareth Bale's relationship with Zinedine Zidane faces an acid test when Real Madrid plays Liverpool in the Champions League final in Kiev on Saturday night.

The pair has not seen eye-to-eye for some time, ever since Zidane jettisoned the Welshman for Real's last-16 first-leg game at home to Paris Saint-Germain in February.

With the Liga challenge all but over, Zidane's reputation hinged on a run in Europe and dropping Bale delivered a resounding message about a lack of trust when it mattered most.

The breaking point arrived in April, in the quarterfinals, in the second leg at home to Juventus. Bale was rewarded with a start at the Santiago Bernabeu after scoring three goals in his previous three games and six in five, including matches for Wales.

Zidane, however, hauled him off at halftime, with Real trailing Juve 2-0.

At best, it seemed the Frenchman was apportioning blame to Bale. At worst, it seemed like punishment by public humiliation.

"It was not to punish Gareth but something had to change," Zidane said after the match. "I was not happy with the approach."

Bale felt harshly treated, he became noticeably down around the squad and his intensity dropped in training. Sources said Bale and Zidane were barely on speaking terms around this period.

Three days after scraping past Juventus via Cristiano Ronaldo's last-gasp penalty, Madrid faced a Liga trip to Malaga. Several key players, including Bale, were left out of the squad.

Real insisted they were rested, but while the likes of Ronaldo, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Marcelo returned for the weekend's game against Athletic Bilbao, Bale again found himself on the bench.

By the time he had been overlooked for both semifinal legs against Bayern Munich, the 28-year-old had started only one of his past five matches.

Difficult to ignore

"It is always going to happen in a side like ours," Zidane said. "There are players in good form and in the team, who are playing well."

If that was the lowest point, there has been an upturn in recent weeks, in both Bale's form and his connection with Zidane.

A brilliant goal against Barcelona, the highlight of a rather underwhelming performance, provided a spark, followed by two more goals and a man-of-the-match display against Celta Vigo.

Bale scored against Villarreal on Saturday to make it five goals in his last four starts－and present Zidane an intriguing selection poser.

The expectation in recent weeks had been Bale would again give way to less spectacular but more defensively diligent teammates－Lucas Vazquez, Karim Benzema or Isco－but this latest surge will be difficult to ignore.

Speaking on Tuesday, Bale said: "I feel great, I am ready for the final ... I think I am on fine form physically.

"I never imagined playing in so many finals. I have played in three and this could be a fourth win, it has blown any expectations I had out of the water."

Sources have said the Welshman would prefer to remain in the Spanish capital, where his family has settled and where he has the support of Real's hierarchy.

But his persistence has its limits.

If Zidane manages to rejuvenate Bale for Real's biggest game of the season, it would continue the upward momentum and create the possibility for a fresh start for the winger next season.

If he disregards Bale's form and leaves him on the bench in Kiev, reconciliation becomes distinctly unlikely.

"He is playing very well, he has scored many goals recently," Zidane said on Tuesday.

"Not only that, but he has been very consistent."

AFP