Zidane backs Bale; Napoli coach happy despite exit

naples — Zinedine Zidane refused to criticise Gareth Bale as 11-time winners Real Madrid ended Napoli’s Champions Lague quarterfinal hopes with a 3-1 win at the San Paolo.

Bale returned to Real’s starting line-up alongside Cristiano Ronaldo for the second leg of the sides’ last 16 clash after he, due to suspension, and injured Ronaldo missed a 4-1 league win at Eibar last weekend.

But the Welshman was just one of several players left in the shadows by a spirited Napoli side bent on overcoming a 3-1 first leg deficit to the Spanish giants.

But Zidane was quick to brush off claims Bale had not performed his defensive duties.

“I don’t agree at all,” the Real coach said. “In the first half, none of us played well.

“We obviously have to do better. We knew the start here against Napoli would be hard, it’s a hard stadium to play at,” added Zidane, who played against the Azzurri on several occasions during a five-year spell at Juventus.

Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri, who led Napoli to runners-up spot in Serie A behind Juventus last year and inspired Gonzalo Higuain to a new league record of 36 goals, was buoyed by his side’s performance.

But he said if they are to compete, they will have to match Real in physical and fitness terms. “It’s pretty clear that, in physical terms, we’re lacking something compared to teams like Real,” said the Italian. —