NEAL’S EURO TITLES TRUMP BALE

IF REAL MADRID were to win the Champions League again this season, the annals will show that Gareth Bale has equalled Phil Neal’s record of four European Cup winners’ medals. It would be a fantastic achievement, sharing in a period of domination unlike any in the modern Champions League era. Neal, however, played every minute of each one of his finals; Bale (right) came on with 13 minutes to go against Juventus in 2017, with Madrid already leading 3-1. Nor is he certain to make the starting line-up if Real go to Kiev this year. This is not to decry Bale — but Neal is one of the most under-rated figures in English football and in terms of contribution his record stands alone. He scored, from right back, in two of those finals, too.