Bale inspired after downward spiral of his Real low
WELSH STAR BACK ON SONG AFTER MADRID MISERY
RYAN GIGGS is trying to implant Manchester United’s old habit of scoring late into his Wales side after Gareth Bale’s 84th-minute goal completed their 2-1 win over Azerbaijan on Friday.
Manager Giggs, who was part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s United team which often snatched crucial victories with late goals, said: “You have got to fight until the end.
“Even if you have not played as well as you would have liked to, when you score that last goal it gives you such a lift.”
GARETH BALE says he is bouncing back after being on a “downward spiral” in the summer.
Real Madrid superstar Bale is eyeing more goals in tonight’s friendly against Belarus in Cardiff after Wales’ record scorer bagged his 32nd for his country against Azerbaijan on Friday.
His late winner saved Wales’ and boss Ryan Giggs’ blushes and kept alive their hopes of reaching Euro 2020.
Bale has also breathed new life into his own career this month just a few weeks after Real tried to offload him to China. It left Bale, 30, short of form, confidence and match-fitness which was especially noticeable on international duty in the summer.
He fired blanks against Croatia and Hungary, missing a sitter in Budapest in costly back-to-back defeats.
But Bale has battled back into Real’s starting line-up and scored twice in their last game atVillarreal.
The reinvigorated Bale said: “Scoring goals and playing well breeds confidence. Going into the summer games I didn’t have that physical fitness where I wanted to be.
“When you are not fully fit in terms of match fitness then you are not able to do what you want to and you get frustrated. It is a bit of a downward spiral.
“But those games are gone, I am in good form and am fully fit. I have the matches under my belt and am going into these games with confidence.
“That helps with being able to score and physically do what you want to do.”
The Azerbaijan game was Giggs’ 14th in charge and the side remain a work in progress, which has tested the patience of fans.
But Bale still believes it is possible to qualify for Euro 2020. “Yeah definitely,” he said. “I wouldn’t be here otherwise, I wouldn’t be wasting my
time. I love playing for my country, I love trying to qualify for major tournaments and having that taste of it at Euro 2016 gives you that hunger to do it again and to experience what we did.
“We all still fully believe we can and we hope the public still believe and give us all the support we need. “We’re working on the manager’s style of play, what he wants
us to do and sometimes it does take a bit of time.
“I think that’s why it’s good now to have a friendly. We can still work on things instead of training.
“We still want to keep that winning mentality and get that momentum building by winning games.”