Bale: “I haven’t played a full game in the last few years”

Gareth Bale appeared before the media at the press conference before tomorrow’s Nations League match against Belgium. The former Real Madrid player commented on his current situation at Los Angeles FC where he still hasn’t completed a full game. Of his 11 games played, he was a starter in just two.

The Welshman joined the Californian team last summer after his contract with Real Madrid ran out. His intention was to have continuity to arrive in the best conditions for the World Cup in Qatar. Wales will play their second World Cup finals almost 70 years after the last one in 1958 and with their biggest star, Gareth Bale. But first are two Nations League clashes - against Belgium in Brussels tomorrow and then at home to Poland on Sunday. Bale insists he is ready to start both games: “It’s up to the manager, I’m fit and available”.

The 33-year-old explained that his low playing time is due to a plan to arrive in Qatar in the best conditions. “We have a plan in LA, what we are doing. Every footballer wants to play as much as they can but we’ve been clever, building myself up for the last part of the season and hopefully that’ll put me in great shape for the World Cup after that,” Bale said.

Bale aiming to play a full game

“I think I’ll be a lot fitter, I haven’t played 90 minutes yet, which is what we’re building up to. We’re getting the training load in and everything like that. So we are on a good path to where I want to be. Of course I want to play the 90 minutes as much as I can, but I understand that I need to build up to get to that level - I haven’t done it an awful lot in the last few years. Like I say, the most important thing for me is to take each game, each week as it comes. Hopefully that will be enough for me to build my fitness up as quick as possible”, continued the Welshman.

Bale’s objective is to become “stronger” and he has been preparing for 10 weeks to be “100% to help LAFC and Galés in the World Cup”. He also commented that he and his family have settled in well to life in Los Angeles. “LA’s good, obviously settling in takes a little bit of time to get yourself into a house, get the family over, stuff like that... but I’m enjoying it, it’s good to be playing games and getting my fitness back up. I only landed this time yesterday, and time zone changes - I slept good last night and I’m feeling fine. Like I said, the family are now settled in over there which is a big part - it’s taken a while to get everything sorted. But I’m playing games, training now for the last 10 weeks and just getting stronger, getting fitter. The plan is to be 100% fit - to help LAFC first and foremost and ultimately that will lead into me being 100% for the first and the World Cup. I need to concentrate on the here and now rather than look too far ahead“.