Bale UCL Overhead Strike Motivated By Anger

Bale UCL Overhead Strike Motivated By Anger

By Joshua Walters

Gareth Bale says his overhead kick goal against Liverpool in the Champions League final was motivated by the anger of being benched on the night.

Zinedine Zidane left out Bale in his starting-XI for the Kiev final, but introduced him for Isco in the 61st minute with the scores at 1-1.

It took Bale just three minutes to restore the lead for Madrid with a breathtaking overhead kick to Marcelo’s cross.

The Wales national team captain put the game beyond the reach of the English club in the 83rd, with a ferocious shot that went through Loris Karius’ palms.

“Angry. Quite angry, to be honest. Obviously, I felt I deserved to start the game. I'd been scoring goals. So yeah, I suppose it was hard to put the anger aside.”

'I knew exactly where the ball went and you can see in the video my head turns to look exactly where the ball is going,' Bale says. 'As soon as I hit it, I knew it was good.' The fall to the turf was light. 'No, you don't feel it!'. 'It's not for me to say!'

Bale reveals he consoled Karius, who looked nearly neglected by his teammates,  after the game.

“I said just keep your head up mistakes happen. It's just unfortunate it's in a final. Yes, I suppose it's not quite as bad as it looked, but I suppose he should save it.”

Bale feels disappointed that the goal was not nominated for the Goal of the Tournament award, and jokes that ‘I want to see those people on the panel because I think they want to be sacked.