Zidane Tight-Lipped On Bale and Navas Futures

By Nigel Philips

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has indicated that the future of certain key players is still unclear after the Los Blancos ended a disappointing campaign with a 2-0 home loss to Real Betis on Sunday.

Keylor Navas and Gareth Bale, both integral members of Madrid’s successful recent past, are rumored to be on the way out of the Santiago Bernabeu, with Sunday’s game a possible farewell before moving on.

While Keylor Navas lasted the entire duration of the game in goal, Bale watched on from the bench as Zidane recorded his fourth loss in 11 games since rejoining the European Champions in March.

Zidane admitted after the game that, he will not be blinded by past achievements as he attempts to reestablish Madrid’s dominance going into next season.

"We will see [if Bale continues]. I don't know what will happen, truthfully," he said at his post-match news conference. "I have counted on other players lately, that is clear for my part. If I had another change today, the same would have happened.

"I have to look at the day to day, and make decisions. And when there is something I do not like, or does not fit for me, I must do what I think best. It might be difficult for the player, who has won a lot here, but the day to day is the day to day.

"I am the coach that I am, with my ideas, and that will not change. The only thing for us is that we want to change things in the squad, and we will do that.

"I don't know what will happen, I am repeating myself, sorry, but I don't know. Keylor played well today, the fans were happy, that's all. Next year, we will see when we come back here."

Real Madrid finished the season in third place on 68 points – 19 points behind champions Barcelona.