Zidane hints Bale is close to Real Madrid return

Zinedine Zidane has hinted that Gareth Bale is closing in on a return to action for Real Madrid after ankle surgery. The Wales international has been sidelined since November after picking up the problem during Madrid’s Champions League win over Sporting. Bale underwent an operation to cure the
injury and, speaking after his side’s 3-0 win over Real Socieded, Zidane suggested a return was close, telling reporters: “Bale? He’s now [working] on the pitch with his boots.”
Sunday’s victory saw Madrid extend their lead at the top of the table to four points and Zidane admitted it was a crucial win.
“More than a victory? It’s a very important victory for us after a difficult few days,” he added.
“It was a very complete match against a very complicated team to face. It was very important for us to have kept a clean sheet. In addition to that, results have favoured us.

“We must thank the Bernabeu. Sometimes the whistles affect us, but today they were very good and together we’ve achieved something important.
“We went to press at the start of the game, but we made a bit of a mess of it. I wasn’t happy, so in the second half we changed.
“We dropped a little deeper and came out more on the counterattack. Eusebio is right, sometimes possession isnt everything.
“The first goal, for example, we worked on it a lot, with Karim, Cristiano and Kovacic coming from behind. This makes me happy.