Gareth Bale helped Real Madrid win their third Champions League trophy in three years against Liverpool on Saturday with two objectives.
The first – maybe the best to ever beauty an European last – saw the Welshman jump into the air and fire past Loris Karius with a gymnastic bike kick. His second-a theoretical exertion from long range – ought to have been kept out by Karius, however the German palmed the ball into his own net to make it 3-1 to Real Madrid.
After the amusement the 28-year-old was naturally enchanted that his objectives had the effect and helped Los Blancos secure a record thirteenth European title. But in an interview immediately after the match, Bale let his frustration at being named on the bench for the final known.
He said: “Obviously I need to play. That hasn’t happened this season for one reason or another. I was injured for five or six games and I’ve been fit ever since.
“I’ll have to sit down in the summer, discuss it with my agent and take it from there.”
The reason for this was he wanted to speak to his old friend from his Southampton days, Adam Lallana, who came on in the final for the injured Mo Salah.