Gareth Bale has taken a shot at Atletico Madrid players saying none of them are good enough to get into the starting XI of the Real Madrid team. The two city rivals will be facing off against each other this weekend in the UEFA Champions League final.
Bale has had an injury troubled season but has still managed to have his best goalscoring campaign in a Madrid shirt. The Welshman is confident that his side are the better of the two. Speaking to Spanish radio Cadena Cope he was asked which team have the better starting XI and he replied, “Real Madrid [has the better players]. Real Madrid are better in every position.”
It’s a very strong statement from the winger considering how good Atleti have been over the past few years since Diego Simeone took charge. Their crosstown rivals have sometimes been a thorn in their side.
Simeone has transformed Atletico from top four contenders into title challengers. He managed to pip both Barcelona and Real Madrid to the La Liga title two seasons ago. He also led them to the final of the UEFA Champions League but were denied in cruel fashion when Sergio Ramos headed in a stoppage time equaliser, a match Real went on to win in extra time.
So now it will be a repeat of that final this year in Milan and Bale believes it will be an even contest. “The label of favourites doesn’t matter to us. Obviously, people working in the media are going to talk about favourites but we’re not focused on that. We’re focused on ourselves. So like I said, come Saturday we’ll only be thinking about the match.”
Bale was also asked whether Atletico Madrid are tougher to play as compared to Barcelona. “They’re both difficult opponents. They’re both good teams. But we know we’re capable of beating them so all we can do is take to the pitch on Saturday, do our best, and hopefully that will be enough.”
Bale also said that the Madrid No 1. is better than his Atletico Madri counterpart saying, "Keylor Navas. 100%.”
Atletico will be out for revenge on Saturday and Real will have to be on their toes against the side they have not managed to defeat this season, drawing once and losing the other. But they will have a psychological advantage going into the final.
