BALE WILL HOME IN ON GLORY
CHRIS COLEMAN reckons the prospect of playing a Champions League final in his home city can drive Gareth Bale on to even greater heights this season.
The 27-year-old Real Madrid superstar has made an impressive start to the new campaign and was on target again in their weekend draw with Eibar.
Bale returns to international duty this week. Wales face Austria on Thursday and Georgia three days later in World Cup qualifiers, as they look to build on their march to the semifinals of Euro 2016.
The Dragons have not reached the World Cup finals since 1958, meaning 2017 could be another momentous year for the £85m man – especially if he also reaches another Champions League final.
Incentive
“I think for him to get to the final, with it being in Cardiff, and to win it a third time would be unbelievable,” said Wales boss Coleman (below).
“To win it twice in three years, as he has done already since joining, is fantastic.
“But it has to be an added incentive as it is his hometown. He is a born and bred Cardiff boy.
“He loves being here in camp and playing in his hometown and we have seen how much he loves to bring success to Wales.
“I don’t think there is any doubt that is going to be on his mind.
“With the final being here, I would imagine he will relish that.”
Coleman does not feel his star man needs another Champions League medal to prove his value to the Bernabeu giants, believing he has already given them value for money on his enormous transfer fee.
“I think Real will have a bit of work to do before they can start talking about the final. They drew with Dortmund and they have slipped up in the league a little bit,” said Coleman.
“But for Gareth personally, I think if you rewind to before he goes to Real Madrid and say he is going to win two Champions Leagues in three years, then he has already paid the fee back that they paid for him.
“It is all about the Champions League with Real Madrid really, that is the Holy Grail for them and he has done it twice in three years. “That says so much about him and the club, and a final in Cardiff will only push him on even more.”