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REAL MADRID-MÁLAGA

Zidane: "I've missed Bale. I wish he was back with us"

Real Madrid's coach previewed tomorrow's visit from Míchel's Málaga and refused to rule out Sergio Ramos: “We'll see how all of the players are tomorrow”.

Update:
Zidane: "I've missed Bale. I wish he was back with us"
JESUS ALVAREZ ORIHUELADIARIO AS

Zinedine Zidane had reason to to cheer in this afternoon's press conference. The Real Madrid coach is delighted that Mateo Kovacic and Keylor Navas are fully immersed back in the dynamic of the squad and made another plea for patience with Gareth Bale, who he says he has missed while the player has been dealing with his injury problems:

“Yes, I would rather have Gareth with us - there's no doubt about that. We all know what Gareth brings to the team. He gives us a lot of strength, he's got pace, he's technically gifted, he is good at putting balls into the box and he works very hard... But right now, the only thing that matters is that he recovers well and gets back to full fitness.He's important for us and he knows that. He's back training and the pains have gone but we'll wait and see when he is ready to return”, Zidane said of the Welsh forward, who will sit out Saturday's home game against Málaga.

Gareth Bale and Casemiro give Modric a hand in this morning's session in Valdebebas
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Gareth Bale and Casemiro give Modric a hand in this morning's session in ValdebebasJAVIER LIZÓNEFE

Bale's return will lift his spirits - Zidane

Have you missed Bale? “Of course, I'd rather Gareth was with us and I'm sure that he would too - just for his own state of mind. He's wants to be back playing and leave behind all of the  negative moments he's been through”.

Sergio Ramos and his protective mask: “Tomorrow we'll decide if he can play. He'll play when he is weel enough to so we'll see how he is feeling tomorrow; we have other options and that's the good thing, I'm not afraid to field someone else. If can't play, somebody else will and I'l sure they'll do well”.

Zidane also spoke about the Uefa investigations into defender Dani Carvajal deliberately forcing a booking against APOEL.