Bale eager for Zidane to stay at Real Madrid

Gareth Bale is eager for Zinedine Zidane to remain as head coach of Real Madrid beyond this season.

The former France international, who succeeded Rafael Benitez in January, stated last month that he was unsure over his long-term future at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Bale, however, has described playing under Zidane as “an honour” and hopes he will be given the chance to continue in his role next season.

“It’s an incredible experience,” he told UEFA media representatives. “He was one of the best players in the world and to have him as a coach is an honour. He’s now demonstrating that he is a great coach. I’m really enjoying working with him and hopefully it continues.”

Bale admits it has been a personally frustrating campaign due to some niggling injury concerns, but he is eager to finish the campaign on a high by challenging for a second Champions League triumph in just three years at the club.

“It’s been a bit of an annoying season, with little injuries interrupting my form, especially when I was playing well,” said the Wales international. “Regarding the objectives, we’re a bit behind in the league, but in the Champions League we know that we are in a good position and we’re going to fight as much as we can in each game. Hopefully that will take us to where we want to be.”

“The fact we won, the celebration… I think about the relief,” he continued when asked for his thoughts on the 2014 final, in which he scored during extra-time.

“I think we’d not won the Champions League for 12 years. I remember when I signed for Real Madrid the president said to me that he’d brought me to win La Decima. It was nice that we won it in my first season and hopefully we’ll win more.”

Madrid face Wolfsburg in the first leg of the quarter-finals on Wednesday and Bale has rejected the suggestion that they have been handed an easier draw.

“We knew that any team that made it to the quarter-finals would be difficult,” he added. “We’re looking forward to playing. We’re going to go out to win both games and hopefully we can.”