Oh, get Real! Bale’s a genius

Wales legend jumps to new manager’s defence

JOE ALLEN admits he finds it “baffling” that Gareth Bale is not starting more for Real Madrid.

Superstar Bale became Wales’ record scorer with a brilliant hat-trick in their 6-0 thrashing of China here.

It saw him reach 29 international goals – one more than Liverpool legend Ian Rush.

Now Welsh team-mate Allen is tipping Bale for more goals – starting tomorrow in the China Cup final.

Midfielder Allen, who teed up Bale’s record-breaking goal, insists the star is fully appreciated by Wales even if he has started only five of Real’s last 10 games.

Baffling

Allen reflected: “As a team-mate, it is baffling really. The team he plays for have an array of superstars and he will be disappointed.

“But I’m sure it is only a matter of time before he’ll be back starting and playing regularly and doing for them what he always does for us.

“It was an incredible hat-trick and what is great is that he is going to have plenty of time to extend that record now and, hopefully, it will stand for quite a while.

“We have all congratulated him. Gaz is really chuffed that he has got it and, in some sense, that is now out of the way.

“You know he is going to get a lot more goals and it is going to take something pretty special to ever beat the record he sets up. If you look at Gaz’s age, 28, he’s at the peak of his powers.

“We’re hoping, as team-mates, that he will keep doing the business.

“I’m sure he is an ambitious guy who will have an eye on doing that.

“You could see, against China, that he is a cut above anyone else who was out on that pitch – and we are really grateful he is a Welshman.”

Bale scored within just two minutes in Nanning, where he lived up to his star billing in the tournament after taking three flights to get here.

Wales midfielder Andy King g says Bale made the game look like a playground kickabout.

And King (above) admits it is a “shame” the talented left-footed ace will not be at the World Cup, following Wales’ failure to qualify.

King said: “It was almost like what he used to do at school at times.

“He went to play someone in, they didn’t get there and he ended up getting on the end of his own pass.

“Everyone around the world knows what an important player he is for Wales so, for him to get that record, all the lads are buzzing for him. “One of the reasons everyone is so pleased is because of the commitment he shows to the team. “He loves being here and being with

the lads. And we love having him here as well because he makes such a big difference to our team and the way we play. “It is a shame for Gaz and for all of us that we are not going to the World Cup, but we have to get on with it and look to the future.” The emphatic victory was a dream start for new Wales boss Ryan Gig Giggs in his first game. He had a tough act to f follow succeeding the popular Chris Coleman, who took the Dragons to the Euro 2016 semi-finals b before quitting for Sun Sunderland, after missing out on qua qualification to Russia.

Respect

But King explained Manchester United legend Giggs, who won 34 trophies as a player, has immediately got their respect.

He added: “First and foremost, he is a good guy.

“The lads like that and you can’t help but be in admiration of what he has done in his own career.

“You only have to look at his playing record to know how he carries himself and I am sure that is going to rub off on us as well.

“You can’t hope to work for anyone better, in terms of what they achieved as a player and how professional they were.

“I am sure that, if he is half as successful as a manager as he was a player, then there are some good times ahead.

“He worked under the greatest manager ever in Sir Alex Ferguson, so he’s going to know what he’s talking about and has picked up some tips.”